May 13, 2000
Game One
Purdue won its fourth extra-inning game of the season and its second in as many days, as the Boilermakers won 6-5 in nine innings at No. 25 Minnesota, today in Game One of a double header at Siebert Field. Last night in 12 innings the Boilermakers outlasted the Golden Gophers 7-6. Senior Andy Helmer picked the win, improving to 3-2 on the season, while Ben Kaebisch earned his second save of the 2000 season. Purdue left six on base, compared to 11 for the host Gophers.
In the top of the ninth, Purdue shortstop Mike Duursma launched his first career home run as a Boilermaker to left center for the game-winner. The slick-fielding shortstop came to the plate 0-3 on the game and 0-7 in the series with three strikeouts. He delivered the first pitch from Minnesota reliever C.J. Woodrow over the left field fence for the go-ahead run.
In the Golden Gopher half of the ninth, Helmer surrendered a lead-off single to the No. 2 hitter, Scott Howard. That was all for Helmer, who pitched one inning with one punch-out. In came lefty reliever Kaebisch, who walked Jack Hannahan to have first and second with no outs. Kaebisch then struck out clean-up hitter Josh Holthaus on a 3-2 pitch for the first out. After a walk to load the bases, Kaebissch started out 3-0 on designated hitter Luke Appert, but fought back and struck out the freshman for the second out. For the third time in the inning, Kaebisch went 3-2 on Mike Arlt and got the center fielder to hit a ball on the ground to third basemen Brad Kriner, who stepped on third for the force-out.
The Boilermakers got a quality start from junior David Gassner. The Hortonville, Wis., native pitched seven strong innings, allowing nine hits, five runs, four earned, while striking out five.
With one out in the bottom of the second inning, designated hitter Rob LaRue drew a walk. He advanced to second on a single by centerfielder Mike Arlt. LaRue then scored the game's first run on a single down the right field line by shortstop Rick Brosseau. Arlt advanced to third on the play and scored the second run on a balk by Gassner. Catcher Jeremy Negen, the No. 9 hitter, took one back up the middle to drive inb Brosseau and make the score 3-0 after two innings.
In the top of third, Purdue would send nine batters to the plate and score five runs off starter Ben Birk. Kris Luce led off the inning with a single up the middle. Kriner then lead down a bunt single advancing Luce to second. Purdue's No. 9 hitter Duursma then reached first following a bunt down the third base line on a throwing error by the Golden Gopher third basemen and loaded the bases. At the top of the order, Chris Walker laid down a perfect drag bunt scoring Luce. David Blomberg then laid down a bunt scoring Kriner. Erik Frei followed with his own bunt attempt back to the pitcher, but Birk threw home and nabbed Duursma for the first out of the inning. Nate Sickler, last night's hero with a perfectly executed bunt, laid down a sacrifice bunt advancing Blomberg to third and Frei to second. Daryl Hallada then lined a rope to right center scoring Blomberg and Frei, making the score 5-3. Daniel Underwood attemped the seventh Boilermaker bunt of the inning, but popped out to the pitcher to end the top of the third.
The Gophers tied the score at 5-5 on the heels of three hits in the fourth. Scott Howard led off the inning with a sharply hit ball to second base that Blomberg had trouble handling and reached first on the fielding error. Hannahan then hit a ball between third and short that Duursma made a diving stop on and erased Howard on the play. Holthaus doubled to right center and Hannahan scored to close the gap to 5-4. Jason Kennedy then singled to left field scoring Holthaus and tieing the score at 5-5.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Arlt led off the inning with a double down the left field line. Rick Brosseau then singled to right field and Arlt attempted to score, but was gunned down at the plate by Purdue right fielder Underwood, who made a perfect throw.
Game Two
The No. 25 Minnesota Golden Gophers scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning and earned a split with the Purdue Boilermakers this evening, claiming a 6-5 victory in Game Two of a double header today before 951 frigid fans at Siebert Field. With the win, Minnesota improves to 36-19 overall, 20-7 in the Big Ten, while Purdue drops to 33-21, 16-11 in the conference.
Purdue out hit Minnesota 12-10. Five different players (Blomberg, Frei, Sickler, Buck and Duursma) collected two hits. Duursma led the Old Gold & Black with two RBI. On a down side, the Boilermakers left seven men on base, compared to only four to the Golden Gophers.
Scott Howard led off the ninth inning for the Gophers with a double down the right field line off Purdue reliever Ben Kaebisch. Kaebisch, who threw 1.3 innings of relief work in Game Two and 1.3 in Game One, was pulled for the Boilers' closer Andy Helmer. Minnesota catcher Jermey Negen tried to lay done a sacrifice bunt attempt to move the runner to third base, but popped up the pitch to Helmer for the first out of the inning. Rick Brosseau then doubled to drive in Howard and tie the score at 5-5. Next up for the Maroon & Gold was second basemen Mark Devore, who singled to center field scoring Brosseau for the game-winner. With the win and an Illinois loss, Minnesota claimed the regular season Big Ten Championship and the right to site the upcoming Big Ten Tournament. Helmer, who pitched one inning in the first game today and picked up the win was tagged with the loss and his record falls to 3-3.
Purdue got on the scoreboard first in the top of the second inning when sophomore Kris Luce led off the inning with a single to right field. Freshman Brad Kriner then walked for a first-and-second with one out. After a wide pitch which advanced both runners, Game One hero Mike Duursma singled driving in both runs.
In the top of third inning, junior David Blomberg led off the inning with a single to left field. Purdue catcher Erik Frei then attempted a bunt, but the offering from Minnesota starter Kelly Werner was outside and out of the reach of Frei. As a result of the unsuccessful bunt attempt, Blomberg was picked off of first by the catcher. With one out and Frei still at the plate, he launched his sixth home run of the season and second in as many days over the left field fence.
In the top of the fourth with two outs, center fielder Nate Sickler doubled down the left-field line. Junior designated hitter Brandon Buck drilled a fast ball up the middle to score Sickler ofn the play and make the score 4-0 in favor of Purdue.
Minnesota tied the score at 4-4 on the heels of six hits, including five in a row in the bottom of the fourth inning. A total of of nine Golden Gophers came to the plate in the inning. After retiring the first batter of the inning, Jason Kennedy singled to center field. After Mike Arlt singled to have runners at first and second, Scott Howard doubled to right center scoring both base runners. Jeremy Negen doubled to right field scoring Howard and making the score 4-3. Back at the top of the line-up, Rick Brosseau singled to put runners at the corner The next batter was Mark Devore who grounded to Purdue third basemen Brad Kriner. Kriner threw to Blomberg at second for the force out of Brosseau, but the relay to first was too late to get Devore. After the play, Purdue coach Doug Schreiber contested that Brosseau was out of the baseline and as a result, Devore should also be out on the play. Schreiber's argument did not stand as Devore was still on first. Jack Hannahan then stepped up to the plate and singled to left field scoring Negen at tieing the game at 4-4.
During the next half inning, Schreiber continued to plead his case his the three umpires, who had heard enough and tossed the Purdue coach for the third time this season.
In the top of the seventh, Blomberg led off with a single. Despite having two strike, Erik Frei laid down a sacrifice bunt and advanced Blomberg to second. Nate Sickler lined a double down the line, scoring the Purdue second basemen.