Wildcats Pound Purdue for 21 Hits; Win Series Opener 12-3
May 18, 2007
EVANSTON, Ill. - Northwestern's offense exploded for 21 hits on their way to a 12-3 victory over Purdue Friday afternoon at Rocky Miller Park in Evanston. Junior Aaron Newman and freshman Jake Goebbert each tallied four hits each while senior Andrew Smith pitched all nine innings for the win. The series opening win ups NU's overall record to 15-36 and 6-23 in the Big Ten. The Wildcats jumped out to 2-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning when freshman first baseman Jake Goebbert (Hampshire, Ill./Hampshire) hammered a two-run double to the left centerfield wall. His team-leading 12th double of the year plated Jake Owens (Stevens Point, Wis./Pacelli) and Caleb Fields (Oak Park, Ill./Fenwick). Both runners singled in their at-bats. Purdue tied the game in the top of the fourth inning with a solo home run and a pair of singles brought in a pair of runs. A balk call on Wildcat hurler Andrew Smith (Fort Mitchell, Ky./Beechwood) put the second Boilermaker run in scoring position. The Wildcats recaptured the lead 3-2 on an Aaron Newman (Palatine, Ill./Palatine) single to right field. Shortstop Tommy Finn (Valparaiso, Ind./Andrean) scored after leading off the inning with a single.
NU extended its lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring three runs on five hits. Senior Geoff Dietz (Lake Zurich, Ill./Lake Zurich) and Owens and designated hitter Antonio Mule (Lodi, N.J./Lodi) each singled home runs in the inning. Finn, who doubled, Dietz and Newman all scored in the inning.
Purdue got one run back after three straight singles in the top of the seventh inning. Following a quiet seventh inning, Northwestern exploded for six runs in the bottom of the eighth to all but seal the victory. NU sent 10 batters to the plate, six of which hit safely. Junior Max Mann (Los Angeles, Calif./Brentwood) had the big hit, lining a two-RBI double over the Boilermaker center fielder's head to the center field wall. Purdue did have a single in the ninth inning, but the Wildcats' third double play of the inning ended the game. The two teams are back in action tomorrow when they lace up the spikes for a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m.
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