May 20, 2006
Box Score
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Northwestern scored six runs in the final four innings and Dan Brauer threw his seventh complete game of the year in a 6-2 game one win over Purdue. The Saturday game-one win, coupled with an Ohio State loss (3-2 to Penn State), guaranteed the Wildcats a first-round bye in next week's Big Ten Tournament. NU will finish first or second in league standings pending the outcome of the Michigan/Iowa series in Ann Arbor.
Like they did in Friday's game, Purdue jumped ahead 1-0 in the first inning. The Boilers manufactured the run using a leadoff infield single that was then sacrificed over the second with a bunt. Another single through the right side scored the run.
Catcher Geoff Dietz (Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich) tied the game 1-1 with a perfectly executed bases-loaded sacrifice bunt. Dietz's sacrifice bunt turned into a base hit when the Boilermaker second baseman did not cover first base, leaving the bases loaded with one out. A groundball double play ended the Wildcat threat.
In an unfortunate turn of events for Max Mann (Los Angeles, Calif./Brentwood), Northwestern took the lead for the first time in the series when he was hit in the face with the bases loaded. Mann was immediately lifted from the game and replaced by pinch runner Stanley Finch (Lubbock, Texas). Finch stayed in the game to play centerfield.
Luckily, the pitch that hit Mann did not cause any bone damage.
In the fifth inning, designated hitter Aaron Newman (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) led off with a lined single to right field and immediately stole second. After a strikeout and walk, first baseman Pat McMahon (Mundelein, Ill./Carmel) flied out to foul territory down the right field line. The Purdue right fielder made a sliding catch as he hit the fence. Newman tagged up on the catch and crossed the plate when Mann was hit.
McMahon drove in a pair of insurance runs in the top of the sixth inning, delivering a two-out, bases-loaded single to right centerfield. NU loaded the bases on a hit-by-pitch and a pair of walks. Newman and second baseman Jake Owens (Stevens Point, Wis./Pacelli) scored on the hit. McMahon lined his single after a Purdue pitching change.
Purdue came right back and scored one run on two hits in the bottom of the sixth inning. A leadoff single moved to third on a double and scored on a groundout to first base.
The score after six complete innings was 4-2 Northwestern.
Shortstop Tommy Finn (Valparaiso, Ind./Andrean) and Newman each recorded RBI singles in the top of the seventh inning to give NU a 6-2 lead. Both hits came with two outs.
In the seventh, Brauer gave up one hit but struck out two to win his seventh game of the season. He ends the Big Ten season with a perfect 7-0 record. NU won all eight of his conference starts. In 52.2 league innings pitched, Brauer struck out 56 and ended the regular season with a 2.22 ERA.