April 8, 2001
The Purdue baseball team received an outstanding pitching performance from sophomore Sean O'Neil and a 15-hit, 10-run output from the offense, all en route to its tenth consecutive win overall, eighth consecutive win in conference play, as it defeated the Northwestern Wildcats 10-3.
O'Neil pitched six innings, yielding just two hits. Credited with his fourth win of the season, also his fourth consecutive win this season, the sophomore Chicago native leads the Boilermakers in pitching victories. He also lowered his season ERA to 4.06, lowest among all Boilermaker starters.
Offensive stars included three hit performances from Kris Luce (3-for-5, 3 RBI, 1 R) and Nate Sickler (3-for-3, 1 RBI, 3 R). Daniel Underwood, Nick McIntyre, David Harrell and John Gusich each added two hits.
Underwood led off the game with a single, but was out after Dave Blomberg grounded into a double play. McIntyre struck out swinging in his first at bat to end the first inning. The Wildcats got a hit and put a runner at third as Todd Morgan hit a triple with two outs, but Sean O'Neil put out the next batter Wes Robinson on a groundout to first baseman Luce.
After Harrell struck out swinging to lead off the second, Nate Sickler hit his 16th double of the season to deep left field. Luce drew a 3-2 count in the next at-bat then hit a single to right field, driving in Sickler from second. Gusich lined out to the pitcher who then threw out Luce at first, converting a double play to end the inning.
O'Neil easily got the Boilermakers out of the second, as Harrell threw out the leadoff hitter out at first half on a bunt attempt. After a groundout to second base, Luce made a nice catch in foul territory to put away the Wildcats 1-2-3 in the second inning.
The Boilermakers sent three batters to the plate in the third. O'Neil forced a ground out to the first batter in the third, then struck out Northwestern's Ken Padgett on a curve ball for his first strikeout of the game. Steve Haake lined out to left field to end the third inning.
With one out in the fourth inning, McIntyre got on base on a throwing error by the shortstop Padgett. Harrell then singled to right field, advancing McIntyre over to third to put runners on the corners for Sickler. On his first pitch, he singled, scoring McIntyre and advancing Harrell to third. Harrell was able to move to third while Sickler advanced to second as the left fielder stopped the ball, but bobbled it as he attempted to throw out Harrell at third, the second error of the inning. Luce reached on a fielder's choice as Harrell was thrown out by the shortstop to the catcher attempting to score. Sickler advanced to third to keep runners at the corners. Gusich continued his solid weekend with a single to right field, driving in Sickler to build Purdue's lead to 3-0. O'Neil got three more outs in the fourth, forcing three consecutive groundouts to shortstop.
Just like they did in their previous game, the Boilermakers went through their entire lineup in the fifth inning. Duursma walked to lead off the fifth inning. Underwood grounded into a double play, the second of the game. Creating another two-out rally, Blomberg singled to centerfield, the team's seventh hit of the day. Blomberg then stole second. On a 3-2 pitch, McIntyre dropped a single into centerfield, scoring Blomberg from second, the team's fourth run of the day off Northwestern's ace pitcher Schara. On Schara's 90th pitch of the game, Harrell ripped a base hit into right field, advancing McIntyre to third. On a 2-2- count, Harrell stole his first base of the season, leaving both runners in scoring position. Sickler walked to load the bases. Luce singled to left field on a 2-2 count, scoring Harrell and McIntyre. Sickler moved to second. Gusich singled to right field, scoring Sickler, increasing Purdue's lead to 7-0. John Badylak, starting his second game in as many days as the team's designated hitter, hit a blooper to right field, scoring Luce, but was thrown out at second attempting to gain an extra base. They added five runs on six hits in the fifth.
O'Neil retired 11 consecutive batters before giving up a double with one out in the fifth inning to David Gresky. He struck out Joe Hietpas in the next at bat then struck out Brandon Ackley for his third of the game.
Dan Konecny replaced ace pitcher Zach Schara at the start of the sixth inning. Schara lasted five innings, allowing eight runs on 12 hits. Six of his eight runs were earned.. Underwood reached base on an infield single for the first hit off Konecny.
Northwestern got a lead off man on for the first time when Lieberman, who replaced Padgett at shortstop, was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the sixth. Underwood chased down a fly ball hit by Haake for the first out. Eric Roeder flied out to Sickler for the second out. Sickler caught another fly ball deep to centerfield, as the Boilermaker outfielders fought off slightly less stronger winds than they did the day before, catching three well hit balls by the Northwestern hitters.
Sickler walked for the second time of the afternoon, with two outs in the top of the seventh. Luce singled through the left side to keep the inning alive. Sickler was thrown out attempting to steal third, ending the seventh.
Ben Kaebisch replaced O'Neil to start the seventh inning. O'Neil, who pitched what was arguably the most impressive outing of his career highlighted by retiring 11 batters in a row, finished with six scoreless innings, two hits and three strikeouts, along with no walks. Kaebisch retired the side in the seventh, including striking out Dan Pohlman, the final batter of the inning who entered as a pinch-hitter. It marked Kaebisch's first scoreless inning of the season and his longest outing of the season.
Purdue added two runs in the top of the eighth. Gusich walked to lead off the inning. Badylak flied out to right. Underwood later walked to start another two-out rally for the Boilermakers. Following Underwood's walk, Blomberg drew his team-leading 15th walk. McIntyre singled in the next at-bat, driving in Gusich and Underwood, his second and third RBI of the game as the Boilermakers reached double-digits in runs for the second consecutive game. Blomberg advanced to third. Harrell struck out on a foul ball to end the inning.
Another Chicago native, Jim Davies, entered the game in the bottom half of the eighth and pitched the final two innings. Davies, despite giving up three runs, was able to get the outs when he needed them, including two strikeouts to clinch the victory for the Boilermakers.
Purdue is now 15-14 overall, getting back over the .500 mark for the first time since Feb. 18, when they stood at 2-1. The Boilermakers prepare for a midweek game at Butler on Wednesday before returning to Lambert Field to host Penn State for a four-game series.
NOTES-The Boilermakers, with their win over Northwestern, have now won their last 10 games in a row and 11 of their last 13 ... the win also marks their eighth consecutive Big Ten win ... by also picking up their 12th road victory today, the Boilermakers have equalled their second-best road win total since 1993 ... Blomberg's walk was his 15th of the season, equal to his strikeout total of 15, the only player close to having more walks than strikeouts ... Gusich was 8-for-16 (.500) for the weekend with six RBI and four runs scored ... Harrell was 9-for-18 (.500) with six RBI and five runs scored ... McIntyre was 9-for-.450) with six RBI and six runs scored ... Sickler was 6-for-14 (.428) with four RBI and eight runs scored ... Luce was 9-for-19 (.474) with seven RBI and four runs scored he had back-to-back three-hit games in the final two games of the series ... Underwood was 10-for-18 with four RBI and six runs scored ... Blomberg was 8-for-17 (.471) with two RBI, six runs scored and three walks drawn ... O'Neil pitched his third scoreless outing in nine appearances.