Sweep Saturday

All five of Saturday's Big Ten doubleheaders were won in sweeps. Michigan downed Purdue, Minnesota beat Michigan State, Penn State took out Northwestern, Ohio State dropped Indiana and Iowa won both from Illinois.

I was in Ann Arbor to watch conference leading Michigan take two from Purdue. The Wolverines captured game one, 6-5. Michigan's Nate Recknagel and Jason Christian each had two hits and two RBI. Mike Wilson (6-0) stayed undefeated. Michael Powers worked the last three innings to post his second save. The Purdue star of the opener was Spencer Ingaldson who was 3 for 3 with three RBI and two runs scored.

Game two saw Michigan claim a 7-2 triumph. Andrew Hess (5-0) tossed a seven inning complete game. The Wolverines starter gave up six hits, a walk and two earned runs. Michigan 3B Adam Abraham had two hits, two RBI and scored once. Purdue's Jeff Mojzik had two hits. Boilermakers' starter Rickey Heines also worked all six innings, but took the loss.

Iowa SS Jason White was the story in the Hawkeyes' game one victory over Illinois. White went 3 for 4 with all three hits being homeruns, the last a game winning walk-off shot. The Hawkeyes prevailed, 10-9. White drove in four runs and scored three times. OF Caleb Curry also had a three hit game with a homer. Mike Schurz (4-1) pitched the last inning to get the win. Illini OF Ryan Snowden had two hits and two RBI.

The Hawkeyes rolled to a 10-4 win in game two. Iowa CF Travis Sweet went 3 for 3 with three runs scored, a RBI and a stolen base. Caleb Curry and Dusty Napoleon each drove in two runs. Casey O'Rourke continued his comeback by posting his third win against one loss. Illini OF Kyle Hudson was 3 for 3 with a RBI.

In game one from sunny Minneapolis, the Gophers beat Michigan State, 9-2. Minnesota OF Mike Mee continued his assault on Big Ten pitching by going 3 for 4 with four RBI. Gary Perniar got the win and Kyle Carr got credited for his fourth save. MSU's Eli Boike's solo homerun was one of three Spartans hits in the game.

Marcus Mackenzie upped his record to 6-0 by holding off MSU, 5-4, in game two. Gophers closer Josh Oslin came in and posted his ninth save. Jon Hummel drove in two runs for Minnesota. Spartans' SS Brandon Doherty had two hits and two RBI. (I'm awake at a rather late hour finishing this post and watching the second game of the MSU @ Minnesota twinbill on Fox College Sports.)

Penn State's Craig Clark pitched a seven inning complete game one hitter. Clark didn't allow a run or a walk in PSU's 1-0 triumph over Northwestern. Clark (2-4) fanned six Wildcats. Brian Ernst got two hits and drove in the lone run of the game. NU's Caleb Fields had the only hit off of Clark. Ryan Myers of NU worked the full six innings and allowed only three hits, but took the loss.

Shortstop Scott Gaffney's three hits, three runs scored and two stolen bases led the Nittany Lions to a game two win. PSU topped NU, 11-5. Joe Blackburn, Landon Nakata, Brian Ernst and Rick Marlin all had two hits. OF Marlin also drove in three runs. John Karr's 1.2 innings of relief were enough to earn the win.

Ohio State beat Indiana, 4-3, in game one of their doubleheader. Rory Meister earned his third win of the year. Jake Hale posted his ninth save. J.B. Shuck and Justin Miller each had two hits, Tony Kennedy had two RBI. IU's Chris Hervey had two hits and two RBI in the loss.

The Buckeyes posted three in the bottom of the seventh to take the nightcap from IU, 9-8. OSU C Eric Fryer had two hits, two RBI and scored three times. J.B. Shuck had three hits, a run scored and a RBI. Matt Angle had two hits, two RBI and scored once. Jake Hale got the win in game two. IU's Jon Fixler and Andrew Means each had three hits, two runs scored and a RBI.