Wildcat Baseball

Gameday:

Double Header - University of Wisconsin Fox Valley at NMU - April 16, 2001
Game One123 4567 89ExR HErr
University of Wisconsin Fox Valley0 0000 0000 05 0
Northern Michigan University0 0201 210x 611 0

Game Two123 4567 89ExR HErr
University of Wisconsin Fox Valley0 00 00 0000 05 1
Northern Michigan University0 020 0 000x 26 0

'Cats defense sparkles versus Cyclones. "Mr. Excitement" C. W. Mayher nearly celebrated No-Hitter Appreciation Day by throwing another no-hitter, but it was not meant to be. Mayher worked his way through four perfect innings and a fifth without a hit before Cyclones DH Derrick "Beefcake" Demuese lined a fastball over the outstretched glove of Wildcat third baseman Justin Young, and down the leftfield line into the deepest reaches of Beef-A-Roo Field.

He had to be happy with the double as Mike Horowitz lined the next pitch right at Eric Ingles, who caught it and stepped on second base for the double play. The Cyclones managed just one more hit off of Mayher, a runner promptly erased by a 5-4-3 double play. They did touch reliever Dave Peck for three hits in the ninth before he was driven from the mound.

Offensively, the Wildcats got all the runs they needed on a two out rally in the third. Brandon Wislocki and James Haas hit back-to-back triples and Haas scored on a suicide squeeze play by Ken Kwarciany. That two run lead was nearly erased by the Cyclones ninth inning rally, but Josh Pifke came on and promptly struck out both men he faced to end the threat and the game.

"It was tough, but we got through thanks to defense again," Manager Rob Preseau said. "Our infield is a powerful weapon and every time they can get a double play or a great diving catch like Kevin Trenkle had in the third, it moves us one step closer to winning."

"It's good to know they're back there," Mayher said. "I cannot count the number of times a line drive has gotten through and I thought I was in trouble, but Kevin or Eric (Ingles) came up with it and retired the base runner."

The Wildcats now go to UW Green Bay to face the Division I Phoenix before returning home to face Central State (OH) April 19.