May 21, 2006

2006 Big Ten Tournament Bracket
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Box Score

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Northwestern wrapped up the regular season with a 14-9 victory over the Purdue Boilermakers and finished Big Ten play with a 21-11 record -- the most conference wins in school history.

The Wildcats head to Ann Arbor, Mich., this week for the Big Ten Tournament, which gets underway Wednesday with a pair of games -- No. 3 Ohio State (19-12) vs. No. 6 Purdue (15-17) and No. 4 Minnesota (16-14) vs. No. 5 Illinois (15-17). Northwestern and Big Ten champion and host Michigan (23-9) earned first-round byes.

Northwestern will play its first tournament game at 2:30 p.m. CT on Thursday, May 25 versus the highest seed that advances from Wednesday's games. NU's second game will take place Friday.

In Sunday's game, Northwestern used four-straight, one-out singles to take a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning. First baseman Pat McMahon (Mundelein, Ill./Carmel), third baseman Stanley Finch (Lubbock, Texas/Cooper) and left fielder Anthony Wycklendt (Glendale, Wis./Nicolet) each recorded RBI.

Purdue came back to score two runs in the bottom of the second inning off Wildcat starter Andrew Smith (Fort Mitchell, Ky./Beechwood). A leadoff single and two hit-by-pitches loaded the bases before a groundball double play scored the first run. A throwing error allowed the second run to cross the plate.

Northwestern used three hits and took advantage of three Boilermaker walks and an error to score five runs in the top of the third inning. Second baseman Jake Owens (Stevens Point, Wis./Pacelli) hit a two-RBI, bases-loaded single to right centerfield to score the final two runs of the inning and give NU an 8-2 lead.

In the top of the fourth inning, designated hitter Dan Brauer (Wheaton, Ill./Wheaton-Warrenville South) hit a one-out double to left centerfield and went to second on a groundout to the pitcher. He crossed the plate on a wild pitch. Brauer's third double of the year was his third hit of the game.

Purdue scored an unearned run in the bottom of the fourth inning to make the score 9-3 in favor of Northwestern. A pair of Wildcat throwing errors led to the Boilermaker run.

The Boilermakers came right back and scored another single run in the bottom of the fifth inning. A one out triple scored on a groundball to shortstop.

The score after five complete innings was 9-4 Northwestern.

Northwestern found the scoring column again in the top of the sixth when Wycklendt launched his eight home run of the year off the Purdue scoreboard in right centerfield. His two-run homer gave NU an 11-4 lead.

After a pair of Purdue singles to start the bottom of the sixth inning head coach Paul Stevens called on Julio Siberio (Davie, Fla./St. Thomas Aquinas) to end the Purdue threat. Three hits later, including a two-RBI triple, Purdue trailed 11-8 after six innings. A pair of groundballs, one of which was a double play, ended the inning.

The Wildcats got one run back in the top of the seventh on an Antonio Mule (Lodi, N.J./Lodi) RBI triple down the right field line. It was Mule's fourth triple of the season.

Siberio calmed down to record his fifth save of the season. He pitched the final four innings upping his career-high season total of 61.2 innings pitched. He ended the regular season with 50 strikeouts compared to just nine walks.

Northwestern added a couple insurance runs in the top of the ninth inning. Freshman Keenan Long (Park Ridge, Ill./Notre Dame) had a pinch-hit RBI groundout and replacement third baseman Jake Wilson (Palatine, Ill./Fremd) had an RBI single.

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