Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
Purdue
Purdue Holds Off Wildcats 8-6
3/30/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
March 30, 2008
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Tommy Finn, Jake Goebbert and Aaron Newman had three hits apiece, but it wasn't enough as Purdue held off Northwestern to earn a series win with an 8-6 victory Sunday afternoon at Lambert Field.
Rain delayed the start of the contest by 33 minutes. Northwestern (5-12, 1-3) had a baserunner reach second in each of the first two innings, but was unable to tally before Purdue was the first to dent the scoreboard in the bottom half of the second.
Dan Black doubled with one away and the Boilermakers (10-12, 3-1) had runners at the corners following a single by Eric Nielsen. Jon Moore followed with a successful squeeze bunt that turned into a hit and put Purdue up 1-0. NU starter David Jensen was able to work out of further trouble by getting a double play.
The Boilermakers expanded on their lead in the third inning as they pushed four runs across. Jordan Comedena had a two-run single, while Nielsen and Moore each walked with the bases loaded meaning the end of Jensen's day. Matt Diedrich came on in relief and got John Cummins to hit into his second double play in as many innings to prevent any further damage.
Northwestern finally got its offense going in the top of the fourth as it managed to chase Purdue starter Connor Sestak from the game. Goebbert was hit by a pitch to open the inning and then advanced to third on a double by Chris Lashmet. A run-scoring groundout by Nate Roberts got the 'Cats on the board before a double by Finn made it 5-2. Tony Vercelli would later contribute an RBI triple off the top of the fence in left to get NU within two.
The Boilermakers increased their lead back up to four with two runs in the fifth on an RBI single by John Cummins and a bases-loaded walk to Ben Wolgamot, the third such issued by the Wildcats in the game.
However, Northwestern got both of those runs right back in the top of the sixth. Pinch-hitters Jake Wilson and Rob Campbell each came through with hits in the innings, including a two-out RBI single by the latter. Newman also contributed a two-out run-scoring single in the frame to make it 7-5.
The scoring continued in each of the next two half-innings. A leadoff walk for the third straight inning came back to haunt NU again in the bottom of the sixth as Moore had an RBI single, before Finn made it 8-6 by collecting his third hit and second RBI of the game with two down in the top of the seventh.
The Wildcats got the tying run to the plate in both the eighth and ninth innings against Josh Lindblom, but were unable to cash in. Northwestern finished with a 14-12 advantage in the hit column. Moore went 3-for-3 with three RBI to pace Purdue. Jensen (0-2) took the loss for NU, allowing five runs in 2.1 innings pitched. Diedrich surrendered three runs in 5.2 innings of relief.
The Wildcats open their home season at 3 p.m. Friday when they start a four-game series against Michigan State.
