Box Score  |
Interview with Neil McPhee
PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. – The Northeastern baseball team opened its Snowbird Baseball Classic schedule in dramatic fashion when it scored four runs in the ninth inning to top Central Michigan on Sunday afternoon, 7-5.
Serving as the visiting team, The Huskies (2-5) entered the top of the ninth inning trailing, 5-3, when
Shane Allen (1-for-4, R) began the rally with a leadoff single to the right side. Following a
Connor Lyons (1-for-5) groundout, both
Gabe Levanti (2-for-3, R) and
Michael Foster (1-for-4, R) drew walks to load the bases. A wild pitch allowed the runners to advance and bring NU to within 5-4, but the next batter,
Jason Vosler (3-for-5, R), struck out for the second out of the ninth.
Brad Burcroff (2-for-4, 3R, 2RBI, SB) stepped to the plate with runners on second and third and two outs, and the senior roped a single to centerfield to score a pair of runs and give the Huskies a 6-5 lead. Following a stolen base by Burcroff,
Josh Treff (3-for-5, 2RBI) smacked a single to right field that scored Burcroff and put NU ahead, 7-5.
Foster pitched a quick bottom of the ninth inning that included two strikeouts to earn the win.
Northeastern grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Vosler and Burcroff hit consecutive singles. Treff followed with a two-strike single up the middle to score Vosler, and
Sean Lyons (0-for-4, RBI, SB) followed with a sac bunt to advance Burcroff and Treff.
Pat Madigan's (0-for-3, RBI) groundout to second base allowed Burcroff to easily score.
The Chippewas (3-8) followed with two runs in the bottom of the frame when Cody Leichman singled and Tyler Huntey was hit by a pitch. Following a sac bunt, Neal Jacobs knocked in both runners with a single to left field.
Northeastern starting pitcher
Nick Berger worked a 1-2-3 third inning, allowing the Huskies to regain a 3-2 lead in the top of the fourth. Burcroff led off with a walk and advanced to third on Treff's single to left-center field.
Sean Lyons reached base when he grounded into a fielder's choice that got Treff out at second but allowed Burcroff to trot home.
The Huskies threatened to add to their lead when Levanti and Vosler both singled in the fifth inning, but Burcroff flied out to centerfield to end the top of the frame.
Berger continued to cruise by getting another 1-2-3 inning in the fifth, but the Chippewas made another dent when they opened the home half of the sixth with consecutive singles and a sac bunt that put runners on second and third. Leichman hit an RBI groundout to even the score, 3-3, and the Chippewas weren't done there.
Logan Regnier singled and stole second in the seventh inning, and a sac bunt moved him to third. Noel Santos laid down a suicide squeeze, and the only play Berger had was at first base as CMU took its first lead of the day, 4-3.
The Huskies had a good opportunity to at least tie the game in the eighth inning when they had runners in scoring position with nobody out, but Treff struck out,
Sean Lyons popped out, and
Joey Scambia (0-for-1) struck out to end the threat. With momentum on their side, the Chippewas added another run in the eighth inning to take a 5-3 lead, but the Huskies' resilience earned them a win in their first of six games in the Snowbird Baseball Classic.
The Huskies continue their SBC schedule with an 11 a.m. game against St. Bonaventure on Sunday, March 2, as NU senior
Chris Carmain is slated to get his third start of the season.
.
