April 7, 2001
Despite windy conditions having affect on judging fly balls, the Purdue baseball team picked up its second win over Northwestern in the series, a 9-5 win. Chadd Blasko picked up his third victory of the year and added a season-high seven strikeouts.
Daniel Underwood led off the game with a base hit to right field. After Dave Blomberg dropped two potential extra base hits towards the right field line, both blown foul by the wind, he struck out. Underwood advanced to second on a Gabe Ribas balk. On the very first pitch following the balk, Nick McIntyre singled to centerfield, scoring Underwood. David Harrell grounded out into a double play to end the inning.
Chadd Blasko gave up a leadoff double in the second, but held the Wildcats in check. Steve Haake advanced to third on a groundout to short, but Blasko did not allow him to score as he gunned down the remaining two batters swinging.
In the second inning, Kris Luce singled through thr right side, with one out, then advanced to second after John Gusich singled in to right field. John Badylak, making his first start in the designated hitter slot this season, grounded into a fielder's choice, putting out Luce at third. Duursma struck out looking, ending the second inning.
After Morgan led off the second inning with a base hit, he advanced to second after a groundout to second base. Blasko struck out his third batter of the game, then forced a pop fly to first to get out of the the inning. McIntyre walked, getting on base for the second time, putting Blomberg in scoring position. Harrell doubled to deep left field, scoring both runners, increasing the Purdue lead to 3-0. Sickler was walked, then Luce struck out looking. Gusich got on base for the second time in the game, loading the bases. Badylak made a valiant effort, bunting down to third, and was narrowly beaten out by the throw. The Boilermakers added two runs on two hits in the third inning.
Northwestern got three runs back in the third, as Padgett got a lead off single on a bizarre infield fly that was blown fair by strong winds. Second baseman Blomberg thought he could get under it, but the fall was whipped away from his sight, where it dropped in to centerfield. Padgett then scored on a Haake double. Haake later scored on a Wes Robinson base hit. After Morgan was walked, Travis Tharp singled, scoring two runs and giving Northwestern a 4-3 lead.
Blomberg singled with two outs in the fourth, his second hit of the day. On the very next pitch, McIntyre drilled a single to right field to put McIntyre in scoring position. Harrell flied out to right to end the inning.
Sickler led off the fifth inning with a bloop single to centerfield. He advanced to scoring position on a balk. Luce reached base on a fielding error by the shortstop, pushing Sickler over to third. Sickler then scored on a Gusich sacrifice fly to centerfield, tying the game at 4-4. Badylak struck out on a foul out bunt, then Duursma walked to put to runners on base. Underwood singled to centerfiled, scoring Luce and Duursma giving the Boilermakers the lead at 6-4. Blomberg doubled on a fly ball that was taken by the wind and dropped into right field, getting revenge for an earlier ball that cost the Boilermakers a run. It marked Blomberg's third hit of the day. McIntyre doubled down the right field line to score Blomberg. It was his 11th double of the season, second on the team to Sickler. After Harrell was walked, Northwestern replaced starter Gabe Ribas with Andy Adams. Ribas finished the day pitching 4.2 innings, allowing 12 hits and four earned runs, eight total runs. It marked the fourth pitcher in eight Big Ten games to not make it through five innings against the Boilermakers. Sickler walked in his second attempt in the inning, loading the bases. Luce struck out swinging to end the inning. The Boilermakers sent 11 batters to the plate in the fifth inning, scoring five runs and adding four hits.
In the bottom of the fifth for Northwestern, Gresky led off with a single, then advanced to second when Robinson hit a pitch off Blasko's throwing arm for a 1-4-3 putout. Blasko didn't appear to be shaken on the play. Morgan added a base hit to centerfield to advance Gresky to third. He caught Tharp looking then threw out Ackley on a groundout to pitcher.
After Gusich grounded out to third base for the first out of the sixth inning, Badylak hit his first career home run, a shot to deep right field and the game's first. Duursma singled, but was thrown out attempting to steal second. Underwood walked on the next pitch, then stole second. Blomberg grounded out to second base to end the inning.
Blasko struck out Hietpas for the first out of the inning then forced a fly out. Blasko then concluded his outing, after his 106th pitch. Blasko finished with 5.2 innings pitched, seven hits and four earned runs. He struck out a season-high seven batters. Adam Green came on to relieve Blasko, his fourth appearance of the year. He gave up a leadoff triple to Haake, who later scored on a Roeder single. He struck out his next batter to end the inning.
McIntyre led off the seventh with his fourth hit of the game, finishing 4-for-4. Luce singled, putting two runners on base. The Boilermakers finished the day with 16 hits, its second-highest output of the season.
Lester came on to pitch the ninth, giving up one hit and striking out the remaining two batters to clinch the 12th victory of the season for the Boilermakers.
NOTES-McIntyre's 4-for-4 performance marked his second game in his last eight with four hits ... with his fourth hit of the game, he picked up his 41st hit of the season, eclipsing his total of 40 from last season ... Lester has pitched his sixth scoreless appearance of the season ... Sickler tied the team's longest hitting streak (10) with his base hit ... the Boilermakers improved their record to 12-2 when scoring the first run of the game ... three players (Blomberg, Luce, McIntyre) eclipsed the 100 at-bat plateau for the season ... Badylak's home run was the first of his career and only home run hit in the game.