May 19, 2006
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Junior right-hander Dan Sattler struck out a career-high 12 batters as the Purdue Boilermakers knocked off the Northwestern Wildcats 11-3 in the first game of a four-game Big Ten series at Lambert Field.
Sattler's effort came in eight innings on the mound. The rightie did not allow a run on eight hits, improving his record to 5-7.
With the win, the Boilermakers moved to 14-15 in the Big Ten Conference. Northwestern, who entered play tied for first in the conference standings with Michigan, dipped to 19-10 and into second place after the Wolverines defeated Iowa 2-1.
Purdue took the initial lead in the third inning when Alex Jaffee scored from third on an attempted steal of second by Spencer Ingaldson. With Ingladson running on the pitch, NU catcher Geoff Dietz threw down to second and Jaffee sprinted home on the play, scoring before Ingaldson was tagged out in a rundown.
Purdue added a run in the fourth on a Neal Gorka fielder's choice, driving in John Hunter from third base. Hunter scored again in the sixth inning, this time taking care of business on his own by driving the first offering of the frame from Ryan Myers over the wall in left-center.
The Boilermakers made the score 4-0 in the seventh on another RBI fielder's choice, this time by Mitch Hilligoss scoring Jordan Comadena.
The eighth inning proved to be the back-breaker for Northwestern ad Purdue plated seven runs on five hits. The inning featured RBI by Jaffee, Kyle Lauderdale, Ingaldson, Hilligoss, White and Hunter. White had the big blow, doubling in two runs with a two-bagger to left-center. In the inning, the Wildcats used four pitchers.
Northwestern scored three times in the ninth to break up the shutout, but it was far too little far too late.
Eric Wolfe had the hot bat in the contest, picking up four hits in five at-bats and scoring one run.
The Boilermakers and the Wildcats return to Lambert Field on Saturday for a 1 p.m. twinbill. Both games can be heard on WLAS AM 1410 in the Lafayette area and on the worldwide wide at www.purduesports.com.