April 12, 2003
EVANSTON, Ill. - Scott Byrnes pitched a three-hit gem for Purdue as the Boilermakers swept a Saturday doubleheader against Northwestern by winning the second game 6-0. The Boilermakers won the first game by an 8-3 final.
With the win, Purdue improved to 17-13 overall and 6-5 in the Big Ten. Northwestern dipped under the .500-mark with an 11-12 record, 4-5 in conference play.
The scoring for the Boilermakers began with two outs in the top of the third as Andy Rempel doubled down the left field line and Nick McIntyre lined a single over shortstop to drive in Rempel to give the Boilermakers a 1-0 lead.
Purdue plated three runs in the visitor's half of the fourth to extend its lead to 4-0. With two outs and no runners on base, John Manuel, Brad Kriner and Eric Wolfe received consecutive base on balls before Mitch Koester was hit by a pitch to force home Manuel. Rempel lofted a fly ball to left that left fielder Dan Pohlman lost in the sun, allowing the ball to landed for a double. Kriner and Wolfe scored on the play, but Koester was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.
The Boilermakers put together another two-out rally in the sixth inning when Kriner, Wolfe and Koester had back-to-back-to-back singles. Koester's RBI single through the left side of the infield, which scored Kriner from second, came one pitch after being hit with a pitch but was not awarded first base when home plate umpire Marc Denzin ruled Koester leaned into the pitch from Northwestern's Mark Ori.
Purdue added an insurance run in the seventh when Underwood was hit by a one-out pitch and Klink drew a walk. Fritz was hit by a pitch to load the bases, chasing relief pitcher Stanley Finch from the mound in favor of Julio Sibero. Manuel grounded out to second, forcing home Underwood and giving Purdue a 7-0 lead.
Byrnes retired the last three batters in the seventh to close the game, one after a single to right field in which Underwood threw behind the runner to retire the batter heading back to first.
Five of the six runs for the Boilermakers were scored after the Old Gold and Black had two out and no runners on base.
The complete game by Byrnes (1-3), who struck out six and walked just one, was his first of the year and the second for the Purdue pitching staff. The shutout was the third for the Boilermakers this campaign.
Andy Rempel was the offensive leader, collecting two hits and two RBI. Mitch Koester had two RBI on one basehit.
Purdue will go for the series win on Sunday at 1 p.m. when the Boilermakers face Northwestern at Rocky Miller Park.