By: Andrew Bowen

Northwestern baseball came to Mt. Pleasant, Michigan, hoping to climb past the .500 mark this weekend against Central Michigan. They got the job done on Friday with a 4-2 series opener win over the Chippewas.

Despite the mid-30 degree weather, the Wildcats started off the day hot at the plate. Catcher Jack Claeys roped a 2-run double past the third basemen in the first to start the scoring for the ‘Cats. Leo Kaplan added his first homerun of the season in the second in the form of a solo shot. After Central Michigan tallied a run of their own in the bottom of the second, fours straight innings of scoreless baseball commenced.

Northwestern broke the scoreless streak in the seventh off a one run double from second baseman Alex Erro. Tommy Bordignon came in the game in the 6th to relieve starter Quinn Lavelle who finished the day with 5 IP, 1 ER, and his second win of the season. Bordignon was able to shut down the Chips until the bottom of the ninth, in which they tallied only one run in an unsuccessful comeback attempt.

Bordignon finished with 4 IP, only allowing 2 hits and 1 unearned run. Alex Erro finished the day 2-5 with an RBI. Jack Claeys finished with 2 RBIs and went 1-3 at the dish. The ‘Cats finished with 4 hits and 4 runs on the day.

For Central Michigan, Michael Brettell finished with a loss in 5.2 innings, allowing 3 hits and 3 runs. Evan Cratt finished the day 2-4 while scoring a run.

Northwestern will face Central Michigan in a doubleheader tomorrow to decide the series. The ‘Cats look to Hank Christie and Jack Pagliarini to start the two games tomorrow. Central Michigan falls to 2-14-1 after this loss while Northwestern improves to 6-7 overall. Northwestern will have a chance to improve to above .500 with a series sweep of the Chippewas tomorrow.