Games Thus Far

Weather did in a couple of Big Ten contests Friday, so the schedule as been altered for the weekend. Here is what has occurred around the conference heading into Sunday afternoon.

Illinois managed to slow #24 Ohio State's offense some Saturday, but the Illini offense evaporated as the Buckeyes swept the twinbill. OSU took game one by a 4-1 score. Dan DeLucia posted his fifth win against only a single defeat by going the distance. DeLucia allowed six hits, three walks and struck out nine Illini batters. Buckeye backstop Eric Fryer went yard for the third time this season. Big Ten batting leader Ronnie Bourquin had two more safties and drove in a pair of runs.

Game two saw OSU prevail, 5-1. Cory Luebke followed in DeLucia's footsteps and tossed his own complete game. (Although, game two was only a seven inning affair as opposed to the opener which went nine.) Luebke yielded three hits and struck out seven. The lefthander improved his record to 4-2. Freshman J.B. Shuck and Jedidiah Stephen each had a pair of hits for OSU.

Northwestern continued its hot start in the Big Ten by dropping Indiana, 4-2. A trio of Widlcat hurlers managed to keep the Hoosiers running game in check and off the scoreboard. Caleb Fields had two RBI for the Wildcats. Pat McMahon homered and stole his third base for NU.

In Happy Valley, Iowa has beaten Penn State three times. Friday night's contest went Iowa's way, 6-1. Luke O'Loughlin posted his second victory going 7.2 innings. Wes Freie had three Hawkeye hits and scored twice. In Saturday's doubleheader, Iowa defeated the Nittany Lions by scores of 11-4 and 2-1.

The initial game saw Dusty Napoleon collect three hits, including a pair of doubles, and drive in three runs to lead Iowa's offense. Freie followed his three hit night with two more in Saturday's opener. Jeff Maitland made yet another pitch for first team all-conference by earning his fourth win of 2006. Maitland tossed a complete game yielding three runs on seven hits and fanning five.

Closer Tim Gudex claimed save number five in the final game. Aaron Seward got the win.

Michigan and Minnesota split their twinbill at the Metrodome. The Gophers took game one, 6-5. Keystone combination Luke McLean and Dan Lyons each drove in a pair of Minnesota runs in the opener. In the nightcap, the Wolverines shutout the Gophers, 2-0. Chris Fetter pitched a complete game for Michigan. He gave up only four hits, one walk and struck out three in his seven inning CG. Nate Recknagel went yard for Michigan.

The Wolverines won Friday night's series opener, 8-6. Derek VanBuskirk's homer capped a Michigan comeback from 6-0 down. VanBuskirk had three hits and drove in four of the six Michigan runs. Doug Pickens also had three hits for the U of M. Drew Taylor got the win in relief and Zach Putnam earned his first collegiate save.

Purdue has taken two of three from Michigan State this weekend. Friday night the Boilermaker bats came alive to the tune of a 10-1 triumph. Five Purdue batters had two hits a piece. Eric Wolfe and John Hunter each homered for Purdue. Jay Buente was the winner improving his record to 4-1.

On Saturday, Purdue won the first contest, 6-1. Mitch Hilligoss and Ryne White each knocked out a pair of hits and two RBI. Dan Sattler (3-3) posted the win for the Boilermakers.

Michigan State stopped the potential Boilers' sweep behind the pitching of John Dwan. Dwan tossed a complete game one hitter. The reshirt junior struck out six and allowed only a single free pass in the 4-0 MSU triumph. Troy Krider and Sean Walker had two hits a piece and Steve Gerstenberger drove in two Spartan runs.