Conference Play Begins

Big Ten played opened today. Let's take a look at the scores.

Michigan 7 Northwestern 1 (box)
Zach Putnam (4-2) goes eight innings giving up four hits, three walks and one run. The Wolverines sophomore fanned six Wildcats. Brad Roblin had two hits, three RBI and stole a base. Doug Pickens and Chris Berset went yard for Michigan.

NU's Jake Owens homered to drive in the Wildcats lone tally. Freshman Cole Livermore worked 6.1 innings, but took the loss.

Illinois 14 Purdue 13 (box)
I think it's safe to call this one a slugfest. Ryan Snowden led the Illini charge with a four hit game. Snowden also scored three times and drove in two. Mike Rohde had two hits and three RBI. Ryan Hastings hit a big fly for Illinois.

Purdue's Spencer Ingaldson went 4 for 5 including a homer. Dan Black was 2 for 2 and had four RBI.

Tanner Roark (2-1) worked six innings and got the win. Jake Toohey posted the save. Purdue's Josh Lindblom (2-3) got tagged with the loss.

Indiana 2 Michigan State 1 (box)
Jon Fixler drives in Chris Hervey in the bottom of the ninth to win it for IU. Tyler Tufts went 8.2 allowing only one Spartans run and walking no one, but didn't factor in the decision. Joe Vicini faced one batter in the ninth to claim the victory.

Craig Brookes was the hard luck loser. Brookes pitched 8.1 innings and gave up only five hits all game. He struck out five and and walked only one, but MSU could not capitalize on a fifteen to five hit advantage. Spartans' 2B Steve Gerstenberger was a perfect 4 for 4. Kyle Day had a three hit game, but Tufts and Vicini kept MSU from scoring more than one.

Ohio State 12 Iowa 6 (8th)
The Buckeyes plated seven in the sixth inning. OSU's All-Big Ten 2B Jason Zoeller has homered and driven in four runs thus far. Ben Geelan has four RBI for Iowa.

I'm not quite sure what to make of the Minnesota at Penn State game. It was to have started at 6:30pm EST. I can't find a score anywhere. I'm waiting for GameTracker to download as I type, but it may be quicker to the jump in the car and head to State College and find out firsthand. I'll try to check on this again later. (I don't think the rain has made it all the way to PA, yet.)