February 27, 1999
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Clutch hitting and control pitching were lacking as the Purdue baseball team fell to 0-2 on the season with an 11-6 loss to Vanderbilt in Nashville, Tenn., on Saturday. For the second consecutive night, the Commodores used a big inning to put away the Boilers, scoring eight runs in the bottom of the sixth.
Five Purdue pitchers combined to allow 10 hits while walking seven hitters. Offensively, the Boilers pounded out 12 hits, walked nine times and stole five bases, but left 15 runners on base.
The Boilers led 5-3 heading into the bottom of the sixth inning, when Vanderbilt sent 12 men to the plate, en route to an eight-run inning. The Commodores had four hits in the inning, while Purdue walked four and committed three errors to fuel Vanderbilts comeback.
Sophomore right-hander Austin Bilke (0-1) picked up the loss, allowing six runs in five innings. Damon Yee (1-0) was the winning pitcher for the Commodores.
Junior shortstop Daryl Hallada continued to shine for Purdue. The switch-hitter had a single, two doubles, a home run and a stolen base. Hallada, who led the Boilers with a .402 average in 1998, is currently 8-for-10 this season.
Junior catcher Erik Frei went 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI, while senior Ryan Cole also had two hits and two RBI for the Boilers.
Freshman pitcher Travis Dorsch pitched two scoreless innings of relief, allowing two hits.
Purdue will wrap up its three-game series with Vanderbilt today with the final game beginning at 1 p.m. CST.