May 6, 2000
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue baseball team dropped a 7-5 decision to Northwestern at Lambert Field on Saturday. The Boilermakers drop to 30-18 overall and 13-8 in the Big Ten, while Northwestern improves to 26-22 overall and 8-11.
The Boilermakers jumped out to an early 3-1 lead in the second inning. Nate Sickler, Daryl Hallada, and Daniel Underwood led off the inning with three straight singles. Kris Luce's bases loaded walk scored the first Purdue run. After Brad Kriner struck out swinging, Mike Duursma reached on a sacrifice bunt attempt, which resulted in an error on Northwestern pitcher Dan Padgett and two more Purdue runs.
The Wildcats came back with a single run in the third inning to make the score 3-2. Purdue increased its lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the third. David Blomberg doubled to lead off the inning and scored on Hallada's second hit of the game. Northwestern scored a single run in the fifth and two more in the sixth to take a 5-4 lead.
Purdue freshman right fielder Daniel Underwood led off the sixth inning with his first career home run to tie the game at five. Purdue starter Ben Quick left the game in the seventh inning after being hit with a line drive. Quick got up and threw the runner out at first, but still left the game under his own power. Quick worked 6.1 innings and allowed just three earned runs while striking out four.
Ben Kaebisch came on in relief of Quick and allowed the deciding runs to score on a two out, two-run double by Wildcat pinch hitter Jason Anderson. Kaebisch (2-1) suffered his first loss of the season in his 22nd appearance. Dan Padgett (5-2) was the winner for Northwestern and Michael Nall picked up his second save of the season. Chad Blasko came on to pitch the final two innings of scoreless relief for Purdue.
The Boilermakers had four players collect two hits on the day. Hallada, Underwood and Duursma each had two hits and an RBI, while Sickler went 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Purdue and Northwestern continue their four-game series Sunday with a double-header at Lambert field beginning at 1 pm.