May 19, 2007
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern used a five-run fourth inning and a three-run fifth to defeat Purdue 11-6 in game two of Saturday's doubleheader at Rocky Miller Park in Evanston. Five different Wildcats recorded two hits, all of them tallying RBI in the process. First baseman Jake Goebbert and left fielder Mike Kalina each went 2-for-3 at the plate. After winning game one 9-6, the doubleheader sweep gives NU a 17-36 overall record, 8-23 in the Big Ten.
For the first time in the series, Purdue took the early lead, scoring a single run in the top of the first inning. A two-out double scored on a single to score the first run of the game.
NU responded with three runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 3-1 lead. NU sent eight hitters to the plate with third baseman Jake Owens (Stevens Point, Wis./Pacelli) and Antonio Mule (Lodi, N.J./Lodi) each knocking RBI hits. Owens laced a bases-loaded single to center and was followed by a single to right centerfield by Mule.
Purdue came right back in the fourth inning, sending eight hitters to the plate to score five runs and take a 6-3 lead. There were six Boilermaker hits in the inning, including four doubles.
NU came storming back with five runs of its own in the bottom half of the fourth inning, sending 11 hitters to the plate. Freshman Jake Goebbert (Hampshire, Ill./Hampshire) hit a towering RBI double off the right centerfield wall, his team-leading 14th of the year. Senior second baseman Caleb Fields (Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick) also hit an RBI double down the right field line. The `Cats were aided by two Purdue walks and one fielding error.
Wildcat starter Ryan Myers (Lake Villa, Ill./Carmel) shut down the Boilers after that. He pitched six and two-third innings in his final collegiate start to up his season record to 4-5. He struck out three and walked none in the game.
NU added three more runs in the fifth inning on three hits. Junior right fielder Max Mann (Los Angeles, Calif./Brentwood) had an RBI single and shortstop Tommy Finn (Valparaiso, Ind./Andrean) had an RBI groundout in the inning. Mike Kalina (Munster, Ind./Munster) also had an RBI single.
Freshman David Jensen (Whittier, Calif./Mater Dei) pitched the final out of the game, inducing a fly ball to center to end the game.
Northwestern and Purdue wrap up their four-game Big Ten series at 1 p.m. on Sunday with a nine-inning contest. The Wildcats will celebrate Senior Day, sending seven student-athletes around the bases one last time.