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By Chris Gentilviso The Daily Northwestern
Northwestern has not seen a 10-week stretch this brutal in 20 years.
The Wildcats stepped on the field Friday in East Lansing, Mich., brimming with confidence after a streak of four wins in their last six games.
By Sunday, their hopes had dissipated. NU (14-36, 5-23 Big Ten) squandered leads in all four games against Michigan State (23-24, 13-14) and was swept for the fourth time this season in conference play.
The losses officially eliminated the Cats from conference tournament contention.
"It was disappointing to sit there and see leads evaporate in strange scenarios," coach Paul Stevens said. "We thought we had avenues to win the ballgames, but for a variety of reasons it just didn't happen."
After erasing a four-run deficit in the fourth inning of Friday's game, NU's one-run lead was gone before the Cats could blink.
Shortstop Tommy Finn's error to begin the bottom of the frame prompted Stevens to bring in his newest relief option, senior Ryan Myers.
After recording a 3.37 ERA in five conference starts this season, the right-hander made his third straight appearance from the bullpen, looking to maintain the Cats' slim advantage. But Michigan State ended those hopes, scoring two quick runs to reclaim the lead.
Myers' high school teammate and Spartans catcher Sean Walker spread more salt on the Cats' wounds, blasting a grand slam to seal NU's 11-6 loss.
"I don't really know what to say," Myers said. "We came in on a high note, but for whatever reason we couldn't put it together."
NU saw itself in a familiar place in both games of Saturday's doubleheader. The Cats led 4-3 heading into the bottom of the fifth in each game. But in both cases, NU pitchers relinquished the slim leads.
In game one, starter Cole Livermore's errant throw on a sacrifice bunt attempt helped erase the Cats' advantage. Following his second throwing error of the game, Livermore hit the next batter he faced, plating the tying run for Michigan State. While the Spartans tacked on three more runs, the Cats managed one hit in the final two innings.
Two hours later, in game two, Myers found himself pitching in relief again. While the Spartans' offense had burned the senior Friday, a walk, sacrifice bunt, wild pitch and weak groundout plated the pivotal tying run Saturday. Trailing 6-4 after six innings, NU mustered one hit in the final inning.
"This is a tough pill to swallow," said junior Antonio Mulé, who went 6 for 13 with five RBIs in the series. "We're in every game, playing hard and we can't finish the job."
Fresh off three missed opportunities, NU starter Joe Muraski held Michigan State in check for six innings Sunday, yielding two runs. But at the 100-pitch plateau, the freshman began to labor.
Back-to-back singles erased NU's 3-2 lead in the seventh, preventing the lefty from winning his third straight decision. The Spartans' comeback marked the Cats' 16th blown lead in 28 Big Ten games.
Reliever David Jensen kept the damage at a minimum over the next two innings and needed one out to send the game into extra innings. But with two runners on, Michigan State cleanup hitter Chris Roberts finished off the Cats, slapping the game-winning single over the head of senior second baseman Caleb Fields to complete the sweep.
"There are different phases of a baseball game," said Fields, who heads into his final series at NU riding a 19-game hitting streak. "Whether it's falling behind early or holding leads late, you have to close out all phases of the game to win."
While Stevens' 19th season was memorable - a No. 2 seed in the Big Ten tournament and conference coach of the year honors - his 20th has been forgettable. Swallowing a personal high of 23 conference losses, he said there was not a single person he could blame.
"Right now, I can't sit there and fault anybody," Stevens said. "They're playing their backsides off. The right attitude and approach is there."
Reach Chris Gentilviso at c-gentilviso@northwestern.edu.
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