Purdue, Minnesota & Iowa Win

Purdue swept a doubleheader today. Isn't that how they got their first two wins of the year, as well? Perhaps, the Boilers just need to play more twinbills. Regardless, the good news is that Purdue took two from Western Illinois today. The better news is that both were shutout wins.

In game one, Allen Donato's seven innings of four-hit shutout baseball earned him his first win. Donato combined with Josh Lindblom to lead Purdue to a 6-0 shutout over WIU. Donato K'd five and didn't allow a free pass. Lindblom fanned two in his two innings of scoreless baseball. Dan Black had a pair of Boilermaker hits and RBI. Brandon Haveman also had two hits including a homer. Jon Moore and Jordan Comadena had two hits a piece for Purdue.

Game two saw Kyle Cook (2-0) and Chris Ivanic combine to shutout WIU, 8-0. Cook gave up two hits and three walks in five innings. Ivanic went four innings also allowing two hits, but only one base on balls. Ivanic was credited with his first save of '08. Ben Wolgamot led the Boilers' bats with three hits and two RBI. Dan Black and Ryne White each had two RBI, as well.

It took the Gophers ten innings, but Minnesota prevailed over South Dakota State, 5-4. Jeff DeSmidt had a pair of RBI, while Nate Hanson, Derek McCallum and Eric Decker each had two hits for the Golden Gophers. Kyle Carr had a strong outing for Minnesota. The lefthander went 6.2 innings giving up five hits, two walks, one earned run and striking out ten. (Yep, ten K's in 6.2 IP.) In spite of those numbers, the win went to Cullen Sexton in relief. Sexton struck out the only two batters he faced to close out the game.

Andrew Means' ninth inning single scored Chris Hervey to lift Indiana over IPFW, 3-2. Matt Bashore had another good start for IU. The sophomore lefty worked eight innings and yielded two earned runs in the Hoosiers triumph. Bashore gave up five hits, four walks and struck out nine. However, just like Minnesota's Carr, Bashore didn't factor into the decision. The win went to Eric Arnett. Arnett (2-0) pitched a scoreless ninth. IU backstop Josh Phegley had a three hit performance and had the only other Indiana RBI.

The rest of the Saturday slate got snowed or rained out. Doubleheaders between Northwestern and Kansas and Oakland at Michigan State went bye-bye. Grand View's game at Iowa and Lehigh at Penn State also fell victim to the elements.