Played in 51 games, starting all 51 in right field ... Was second on the team with a .337 batting average, picking up 61 hits in 181 at-bats, including 11 doubles and a team-high seven home runs ... Scored 27 runs and drove home 30 ... Batted .284 in 24 Big Ten games, collecting 23 hits with three home runs and four doubles ... Had 17 multiple-hit games, including six games with three hits ... Ended the season with a season-best eight-game hitting streak.
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Was 7-11 in the season-opening series at Florida Atlantic (2/25-27), with two doubles and a home run ... Ripped a two-run homer in a 2-1 win against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi (3/19) ... Went 2-3 with three runs, three RBI, and a home run vs. Western Michigan (3/27) ... Was a perfect 3-3 at the plate vs. Northwestern (4/15) ... Blasted three hits, including a double and home run, and drove home five runs in a Big Ten Tournament game vs. Minnesota (5/28) ... Collected seven hits, including four for extra bases, in 15 at-bats during the Big Ten Tournament (5/26-28).
SOPHOMORE / 2004
Played in 28 games, starting 11 ... Batted .130 with two doubles and one home run ... Hit .182 in 10 Big Ten games.
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Drilled a three-run home run in a pinch-hit at-bat vs. Western Michigan (3/26) ... Went 1-1 with an RBI vs. Michigan (5/10) ... Lined a double to left against Iowa (5/16).
FRESHMAN / 2003
Played in 22 games, starting nine ... Batted .167 for the season, .111 in Big Ten play ... Scored three runs and had two RBI.
SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Collected first collegiate hit against Sacred Heart (3/2) ... Had a two-hit performance vs. Belmont (3/17) ... Towered a home run off the Lambert Field scoreboard in a win over IPFW (4/8).
REDSHIRT / 2002
Did not play baseball during initial season in college.
HIGH SCHOOL
Earned three letters in baseball at St. Joseph High School ... Tabbed all-area all three seasons ... Was an ESCC all-conference selection as a junior and senior ... Named team[apos]s MVP in his senior year ... A member of National Honor Society, was on honor roll all four years and was an ESCC scholar athlete ... Earned three letters in football and two in soccer.
PERSONAL
Full name is Neal Paul Gorka ... Was born on April 29, 1983, in Downers Grove, Ill. ... Son of Paul and Marianne Gorka ... Has one brother, Brian ... Majoring in English secondary teaching ... Walked on to the Purdue baseball team.