INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The Northwestern Wildcats broke through after a 1-1 tie in the seventh inning to take down the Butler Bulldogs 5-1 Sunday.
Junior Matt McClure (1-3) started on the mound and picked up the win for Northwestern (1-12). The right-hander went seven innings, giving up one run on five hits, allowing one walk and striking out four. Junior Ben Grable also made an impact on the mound for the Wildcats, throwing two shutout innings while allowing one hit with one walk and two strikeouts.
In the batter’s box, the Wildcats were paced by Kevin Ferrer, who went 2-for-4 on the day with a home run, a walk and an RBI. Trent Liolios furnished a noteworthy performance as well, going 1-for-4 with a double and two RBI. Junior Vincent Bianchina also chipped in for Northwestern, putting together one hit in four trips to the plate while adding a walk and an RBI.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Butler grabbed the first lead of the game in the bottom of the second, using a pair of hits to go up 1-0. The Wildcats answered back in the fourth inning with a solo home run from Ferrer.
It was a pitchers’ duel from there, as the score stayed knotted at 1-1 until the eighth inning. Then the Northwestern offense exploded for four runs, highlighted by a two-run double off the bat of Liolios, which brought the Wildcats lead to 5-1. The score remained 5-1 for the rest of the game, as Northwestern coasted to the win.
GAME NOTES
» Northwestern’s highest scoring inning was the eighth, when it pushed four runs across.
» McClure put together seven innings of one-run ball for the Wildcats.
» Northwestern pitchers limited Butler to just 1-for-7 (.143) with runners in scoring position.
» Northwestern pitchers faced 35 Butler hitters in the game, allowing 12 ground balls and nine fly balls while striking out six.
» The Wildcats drew eight walks from Butler pitching.
» Ferrer led the Wildcats at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a home run and an RBI.s
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