April 14, 2002
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - For the third straight game, Northwestern pitching was outstanding as right-handed starter Gabe Ribas (Brunswick, Maine/Brunswick) threw his first complete game of the year in the tough-luck 2-1 loss. It's the third straight one-run loss to Purdue University at Lambert Field in West Lafayette, Ind.
The Boilermakers took an early 1-0 lead when Daniel Underwood hit his third home run of the season, driving a Ribas offering over the left center field wall.
Purdue third baseman John Gusich followed suit, hitting a solo shot in the second inning to give the Boilermakers a 2-0 lead.
NU tried to make a last-inning comeback as Brandon Ackley (Carmel, Ind./Carmel) drove reliever Matt Skripsky's pitch into the right center field gap, scoring pinch runner Andy Adams (Mt. Prospect, Ill./Prospect) from second. Adams was running for pinch hitter Jason Krynski (Niles, Ill./Niles West) who led off the inning with a double to the left center field gap.
In the game, Ribas struck out eight and walked none making two bad pitches in the game, leading to the two Purdue round trippers. On the season Ribas has struck out 45 hitters compared to eight walks.
NU falls to 9-18 overall and 2-8 in the Big Ten.