Big Ten Baseball Blog: More Saturday Stories and Results...

Saturday, May 2, 2009

More Saturday Stories and Results...

INDIANA 8 (GAME 1)
PURDUE 15

In the first game of the doubleheader, Boilermaker reliever Matt Bischoff got the win and moved to 3-2 on the season after pitching 3 scoreless innings, giving up just two hits and striking out one Hoosier batter. Indiana reliever Joey O'Gala recieved the loss and dropped to 2-3 on the season after giving up 3 runs on 5 hits in 1.2 innings pitched. Offensively the Boilermakers were led by 2B Eric Charles who was 3-3 with 3 runs, 2 RBI, and a BB. Alex Jaffee and Brandon Haveman also both added HRs to put the Hoosiers away. Indiana was led by 3B Vince Gonzalez who went 2-4 with 1 run and 3 RBI. Phegley, Dickerson, and Schutz each added two hits in the game as well, but it was not enough for the red and white in game one. With the win, the Boilermakers improved to 19-21 overall, and 6-9 in the Big Ten. The loss puts the Hoosiers at 21-23 (10-5).

INDIANA 7
PURDUE 6 (GAME 2)

In the second game of this Saturday doubleheader, Indiana's Eric Arnett threw a complete game, giving up 6 runs on 10 hits while striking out 9 Boilermakers. With the win, Arnett moved to 10-1 on the season. Purdue reliever Joe Haase takes the loss and moves to 1-2 on the season after pitching 4.1 innings and giving up 2 runs on 6 hits. The Hoosiers were led by 1B Jerrud Sabourin who finished the game 4-5 with a HR and 2 RBI. RF Chris Hervey was also 2-3 with a HR and 1 RBI. The Boilermakers were led offensively by leadoff hitter Brandon Haveman, who was 3-5 with 2 runs. Purdue 2B Eric Charles also collected two hits, and finished 2-4 on the night. With the win, the Hoosiers moved to 22-23 overall, and 11-5 in conference. The loss puts the Boilermakers at 19-22 (6-10).

MICHIGAN 6
OHIO ST. 9 (GAME 2)

In the second game of this twinbill, Buckeyes starter Dean Wolosiansky improved to 10-1 on the year after giving up 4 runs and striking out 5 in 5.2 innings of work. The Wolverines' Tyler Burgoon fell to 4-1 after giving up 6 runs (2 earned) in 1.2 innings worked. Offensively the Bucks were led by DH Ryan Dew who was an impressive 5-5 with a HR and 2 RBI. CF Michael Stevens was also 3-4 with 2 runs and 1 RBI. Michigan's top hitter was 2B Nick Urban, who finished 2-4 with a HR and 2 RBI. With the win the Buckeyes improved to 34-10 (13-4), while the Wolverines dropped to 23-21 (6-11).

Overall we saw a lot of offense in the Big Ten tonight, highlighted by the 26 run performance that the Gophers put on the Hawkeyes. Conversely, we did see some great pitching as well, as Ohio State's Alex Wimmers no-hit the Wolverines in game 1 of a doubleheader. Once again, no big surprises, it looks as though the Big Ten race will come down to who plays better throughout the last 7 conference games between Ohio State, Illinois, and Minnesota. This being said, don't forget about the Hoosiers at 11-5, and especially the red-hot Spartans at 10-7.

Stay tuned for coverage of tomorrow's series finales, Weekend All-Conference Performers, and updated statistics and standings.

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Big Ten Baseball Blog

Hello everyone and thanks for checking out my Big Ten Baseball Blog! This website is a great resource for anyone and everyone who is interested in not only Big Ten baseball, but baseball in general. Obviously, the main topics of discussion will be Big Ten baseball, but there will also be discussion of other levels of baseball as well. I will try to faithfully update the blog with scores, statistics, standings, and discussions as much as possible.

If you are unfamiliar with Big Ten baseball, or the Big Ten conference in general, here is a quick overview:

The Big Ten Conference was established in 1895, and originally included seven midwestern universities (University of Chicago, University of Illinois, University of Michigan, University of Minnesota, Northwestern University, Purdue University, and the University of Wisconsin.). In 1899, Indiana University and Iowa University joined the Big Ten while in 1912, Ohio State joined. In 1946, Chicago withdrew from the Big Ten and later in 1949 Michigan State University was added. For a period of 40 years, the Big Ten remained with its 10 members until 1990 when the Big Ten agreed to add Pennsylvania State University. Since this addition, the Big Ten has become the 11-team elite athletics conference it is today. In recap, today's Big Ten conference includes Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Michigan St., Iowa, Penn St., Northwestern, Purdue, Indiana, Ohio St., and Wisconsin.

The Big Ten athletics conference competes in 12 men's sports and 13 women's sports, and has become one of the strongest collegiate athletics conferences in the nation. Among these is baseball, this blog's focus.

Big Ten baseball has a long and rich tradition which sadly has gone "under the radar" due to the lack of popularity of not only baseball in the midwest, but college baseball in general. It is my goal to gain more attention to this great conference and sport which is always filled with extremely gifted student athletes and exciting competition.

Currently, 10 of the 11 teams in the Big Ten conference compete in men's baseball. Wisconsin is the only team which does not participate, cutting their program in the late 1980's. These 10 teams play a full 50-60 game schedule each spring, and ultimately strive to become not only Big Ten champions, but NCAA champions. Each season, teams play a handful of non-conference games against various opponents across the nation, as well as 24 games against conference opponents (this determines who wins the Big Ten regular season championship). Once the 24 conference games have completed, the top 6 teams in the conference recieve spots in the Big Ten tournament, which has been held at the regular season champion's home field in the past, but this year will be held at a neutral site in Columbus, OH (Huntington Park). The winner of this tournament recieves an automatic bid into the NCAA baseball tournament which ultimately determines the national champion.

Each year, Big Ten teams are getting more talented and are creating a more exciting situtation for fans and followers. The Big Ten has produced some very quality major league baseball players, and will continue to do so.

I hope that this blog will serve as a great resource for you to follow, learn, and enjoy the great sport of baseball, and more specifically, in the great Big Ten Conference.