HAMMOND, Ind. —
Anthony Noble (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield Central High School) and
Joe Sullivan (Mundelein, Ill./Mundelein High School) combined to toss a nine-inning shutout as Purdue Northwest defeated University of Indianapolis in the second game of Tuesday's non-conference doubleheader. The Pride won 3-0 in the nightcap with a run in the fifth and two in the seventh as the two teams split the twinbill hosted at Laborers' Local 41 Field.
The outstanding pitching performance is only the third nine-inning shutout in PNW's Division II era, and the first since the Pride defeated Lewis 1-0 in the second game of a doubleheader sweep to open the 2021 season. Three years ago, former ace Kyle Flessner logged the first nine-inning shutout of the D2 era against Parkside on March 29, 2019.
Following the win, PNW improved to 11-8 overall and snapped a seven-game slide by picking up its first victory since sweeping UIndy three weeks ago. The Pride claimed the season series over the Greyhounds three games to one.
Noble started on the mound for the Pride and tossed 4.2 innings of two-hit ball with five strikeouts for his best outing of the year. The right-hander carried a no-hitter to the fourth inning before UIndy led off the frame with a bunt single. Despite five walks, Noble worked his way out of a couple jams in the second and fourth inning thanks to a little help from his defense. The top of the fourth ended on an outfield assist at the plate as left fielder
Luke Montgomery (Orland Park, Ill./St. Laurence High School) threw out UIndy's Denton Shepler trying to score from second.
Sullivan came on to retire the final out in the fifth and the left-hander was dominant the rest of the way. He allowed just three base runners on a hit, walk and hit batter over the final four-and-a-third innings, finishing with four punchouts to improve to 3-1 on the season.
PNW outhit the visitors 8-3 in the second game of the day while posting a combined 13-6 margin across both games. Montgomery and
Tyler Schultz (Hobart, Ind./Hobart) each finished with a single and a double to lead the Pride at the plate in Game 2. Schultz leads the squad with nine multi-hit games on the season.
Ray Hilbrich (Schererville, Ind./Lake Central) broke the scoreless tie when he fought off an 0-2 pitch by knocking an opposite-field single through the left side with two outs in the fifth. That scored Montgomery, who singled earlier in the inning, to make it 1-0.
Then, the Pride tacked on two more runs after more timely hitting with two outs in the seventh. Schultz delivered a run-scoring double to make it 2-0 after sending a full-count pitch down the left-field line. Two batters later,
Alex Gasbarro (New Lenox, Ill./St. Laurence High School) singled on a sharp line drive to left field to plate the final run of the contest.
Anthony Fumagalli (Plainfield, Ill./Plainfield North High School) and
Jack Gallagher (Bloomington, Ind./Bloomington North High School) also reached safely on base hits in the nightcap.
UIndy went through six pitchers as reliever Austin Bestul was charged with the loss.
UP NEXT
PNW has the weekend off before returning to action against Northwood on Thursday, April 14 to kick off a four-game series at home against the Timberwolves.
FOLLOW THE PRIDE
For all the latest information on Purdue Northwest Baseball, please visit PNWathletics.com. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow the Pride (@pnwathletics / @PNW_Baseball) on Twitter. You can also find the Pride on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.
