April 6, 2012
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EVANSTON, Ill. - Joe Haase recorded six 1-2-3 innings and did not give up a hit after the fourth inning while pitching his second collegiate complete-game shutout, leading No. 19 Purdue baseball to a 7-0 win at Northwestern Friday afternoon in the opener of a three-game series.The Boilermakers (22-5, 5-2 Big Ten) won in shutout fashion for the second time in a week and third time this year. Haase (5-0) matched the two-hit shutout thrown by Lance Breedlove Saturday in a 2-0 win against Penn State at Lambert Field.
Purdue scored three times in the first inning and four times with two outs in the eighth inning. In between, Northwestern (10-16, 3-4 Big Ten) starter Francis Brooke only allowed three Boilers to reach base safely. Brooke also went the distance.
Purdue scored its four runs in the eighth inning after the first two batters of the frame were retired. Five straight hits from the three through seven segment of the lineup led to the Boilers' 13th rally of the season of four runs or more.
Cameron Perkins and Kevin Plawecki both finished with three hits and an RBI. They both recorded hits during the extended rallies. Angelo Cianfrocco recorded three RBIs.
Haase was able to throw his curveball and other offspeed pitches for a strike for much of the day, registering all four of his strikeouts on called third strikes. The only hits the senior surrendered were an infield single to leadoff the third inning and a two-out base hit in the fourth. The Wildcats' only other base runner reached safely on a one-out walk in the seventh.
Haase worked 1-2-3 innings in the first, second, fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth. He retired eight consecutive batters twice and 29 of the 30 batters he faced in the game. Both of his complete-game shutouts have come on the road in Big Ten play. He previously blanked Minnesota at Target Field on April 2, 2011. Friday's outing was his fourth consecutive quality start. Purdue is 8-0 when he has started this year.
The first four Purdue batters of the game reached safely. Tyler Spillner walked to begin the game and Eric Charles followed with an infield single. Perkins plated the first run with a double into right center and Plawecki's single through the left side scored Charles. Perkins trotted home on a sac fly to right center off the bat of Cianfrocco.
Singles by Perkins and Plawecki ignited the two-out rally in the eighth inning. Barrett Serrato then delivered a bloop single into left field, collecting his 17th two-out RBI of the year. Cianfrocco followed with a fly ball to left field that Jack Havey lost in the sun. It got past him and rolled to the wall for a two-run double. Sean McHugh's run-scoring single, accounting for his 10th two-out RBI of the year, capped the scoring.
Shortstop David Miller and Perkins both made nice plays on the left side of the infield to account for the first two outs of the second inning. Miller went deep in the hole to glove a ball hit by Havey, making a strong throw across the diamond to prevent an infield hit. Moments later, Perkins fielded a bunt attempt quickly and threw out Nick Linne.
Perkins later made the highlight defensive play of the day when he made a diving catch on a line drive off the bat of Zach Morton that was ticketed for left field. The web gem ended the sixth inning.
Northwestern catcher Geoff Rowan did successfully throw out Stephen Talbott trying to steal in the second inning, marking the first time that Talbott has been thrown out as a Boiler. He entered the day a perfect 30-for-30 in his career.
The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. ET. The Big Ten's leaders in strikeouts, Purdue's Lance Breedlove and Northwestern's Brandon Magallones, will be on the mound.