BROOKLINE – Riding high off the momentum of sweeping Hofstra at home over the weekend, the Huskies took advantage of three Wildcats errors, defeating their highest-ranked opponent of the season 11-4.
Coming into this afternoon as a Power Five team and 36th in the national RPI rankings, was slated as the favorite against Northeastern. In late February, Kansas State narrowly beat current No. 2 Arkansas 3-2 in addition to cruising against No. 25 Texas Christian University two days later 10-2.
Things went according to plan in the early going for the Wildcats, as they jumped out to a quick 3-0 lead in the top of the first. It came from two blasts — the first from graduate infielder Seth Dardar before a two-run shot by graduate catcher Keegan O’Connor cleared the center-field wall. . Northeastern junior starting pitcher Charlie Walker exited the game after an efficient 1-2-3 second inning, but the damage had already been done.
The Huskies answered back with four straight unearned runs across the first three innings, taking the lead 5-3. The WIldcats, who garner the lowest fielding percentage in the Big 12 at .962, continued with their sloppy defense, making a throwing error in each of the first three innings.
“I think a couple of those miscues on their side were on two-strike balls in play,” said Northeastern head coach Mike Glavine. “You don’t do that. You don’t give us that opportunity, because we can really run.”
In the bottom of the fourth, Huskies senior infielder Jack Doyle continued the scoring, plating junior outfielder Cam Maldonado on a fielder’s choice. Next to the plate, redshirt freshman catcher Will Fosberg drove in two more runs on a single through the left side, extending Northeastern’s lead to 8-3.
Graduate student pitcher Cooper McGrath was the first to enter the game for Northeastern out of the bullpen, and immediately found himself in trouble, walking the first three batters he faced. With the bases loaded, McGrath struck out freshman infielder AJ Evasco for the first out of the inning. He then got O’Connor swinging at strike three for the second out. Finally, McGrath induced a groundout to shortstop — escaping the inning and pumping his fist in celebration.
Despite some hiccups with command, Huskies relievers only gave up one combined run on three hits in seven innings of work. Considering that Charleston, the number two team in the CAA behind Northeastern, comes to Brookline this weekend the efficiency of the relievers was important for the health of the staff.
“I thought those guys overall didn’t have to work too, too hard,” Glavine said. “[Senior pitcher Jack Bowery] worked a little bit. McGrath got himself into some trouble. But overall, I thought those guys pitch well. And we will be ready for the weekend for sure.”
The final nail in the coffin for the Wildcats was a Doyle 2-RBI double into the right field corner in the home half of the eighth, extending the Huskies’ lead to 11-4. Senior pitcher Jack Beauchesne, who has struggled thus far in the season with an ERA north of seven, cleaned up for Northeastern, pitching the final two innings. Striking out three without allowing a single baserunner, Beauchesne had his best outing of the year this afternoon against the best offense he’s faced.
“I mean, I think it was a great win for us,” Glavine said. “My message before the game was, ‘I just want to see the same team I’ve seen at the beginning of the year, middle of the year, end of the year, it doesn’t matter. Just go out there and be the same team.”
The Huskies host Kansas State at Friedman Diamond for the series finale tomorrow. WRBB will have full coverage, provided by Amelia Ballingall, Max Schwartzberg, and Dylan Black on Sports+ for a 2 p.m. first pitch on Wednesday.