It was a cold, wet day at Rocky Miller Park for Northwestern's game against Chicago State (3-26).
But despite the chilly weather, the Wildcats made sure they kept the stadium warm with their red-hot hitting.
The Cats unleashed 17 hits in just five innings in a rain-shortened 13-0 victory. The triumph pushed NU's winning streak to three games and overall record to 7-14.
After a tense series against Michigan State over the weekend, this game gave the Cats a chance to really let loose and play.
"It makes the game fun," sophomore first baseman Jake Goebbert said. "It's why we play the game to go up and feel like you can't get out."
Despite the lopsided final score, the game was close in the early innings.
CSU came out strong in the top of the first against sophomore starter Joe Muraski, putting men on first and third before Muraski whiffed Cougar shortstop Jordan Hass to end the threat.
But NU's offense struggled to bring men home. In the first two innings, the Cats stranded three men on base including two runners in scoring position with only one out.
"I think we were a little anxious early," second baseman Jake Owens said. "But after the second, I think guys really settled down and started seeing the ball."
NU's bats came alive during the third inning. Sophomore shortstop Kenneth Avila led off the third inning with a bloop single to center field. Owens plated Avila with a towering triple to right field to open the scoring before coming home on a sacrifice ground out by senior outfielder Aaron Newman.
Then Goebbert came to the plate. The sophomore struggled in the Michigan State series, going 2-for-13. But in just one swing, he matched his weekend production with a towering solo home run, his fifth of the year, off the left field scoreboard.
"The pitcher had been throwing strikes early in the count and I was looking fastball," Goebbert said. "Everyone else (on the team) had been squaring the ball up good and I just wanted my shot."
2008 Woodie Awards
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