Northwestern looked dead in the water just three outs into Tuesday’s game, staring down a seven-run deficit.
But, as the saying goes, it’s not over until the fat lady sings.
NU (14-18-1, 5-10 B1G) bounced back from a weekend sweep at the hands of Purdue with a 10-run sixth inning that powered its 12-11 victory over UIC (12-20-1, 7-5 MVC). This win marked the Wildcats’ second over the Flames this year.
The game began well enough for Wildcat starter Justin Fryer, who induced a flyout to center from the
first batter he faced. But the first-year pitcher struggled after that, as UIC tagged Fryer for five hits in the opening inning, including two home runs, and scored seven runs before he could record the third out. Sam Hliboki came on in relief to get the final out of the opening half-inning, but the damage was done: UIC led 7-0.
Trying to chip away and get back into the game, Jack Lausch and Noah Ruiz hit back-to-back home runs in the bottom of the first to cut the deficit to five. Even so, the early hole looked demoralizing for Northwestern’s players.
While Hliboki settled things down on the mound and shut down the UIC offense, the ‘Cats’ bats remained dormant for most of the game. Entering the bottom of the sixth, NU hadn’t mustered a single hit since the first inning and trailed 7-2.
Then the bats woke up.
Nick Barron’s homer to left-center plated two, Owen McElfatrick’s double down the third base line brought home another and Jack Counsell’s RBI single dwindled UIC’s advantage to one.
But the Wildcats’ weren’t done.
After a Ryan Kucherak single and doubles by Lausch and Ruiz, NU led 10-7. A second pitching change of the sixth inning for the Flames did little to slow the tide as hits by Barron and Jackson Freeman scored Northwestern’s 11th and 12th runs of the ballgame. Overall, the ‘Cats scored an astounding 10 runs in the sixth inning, surging to take a commanding 12-7 lead.
Yet, UIC did its best to make things interesting late. Alexander Wr homered in the top of the eighth, and then Thomas Curry hit a three-run bomb in the top of the ninth to bring the Flames within one run.
But UIC’s rally came too late. Alex Grant replaced a heavily-used Hliboki in the top of the ninth and nailed down the comeback 12-11 win for the ‘Cats. Outside of the sixth inning, the Wildcats managed just two hits all game, but still came away with the victory.
Northwestern now turns its attention to a weekend series against Michigan, another team below .500 in Big Ten conference play. The Wildcats will need a better start on the mound, but their bats may finally be heating up as the season rolls on.
