May 14, 2000
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 baseman.