February 28, 1999
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - For the third straight game, the Purdue baseball team gave up a big inning to Vanderbilt as the Boilers fell to 0-3 with a 10-7 loss to the Commodores on Sunday in Nashville, Tenn.
Purdue trailed 1-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth, when Vanderbilt exploded for five runs on six hits in the inning off junior left-hander Russ Morgan (0-1). Third baseman Hunter Bledsoe and catcher Andy Kropf led off the inning with back-to-back home runs on consecutive pitches for Vanderbilt. The Commodores followed with four more hits in the inning, including three doubles, to extend their lead to 6-0.
Purdue got on the board in the fifth with two runs. Sophomore Nate Sickler led off with a double, and junior Chris Walker slugged his first home run of the season, a two-run shot to left field, to bring the Boilers within four.
Vanderbilt's offense proved to be too much for Purdue, as the Commodores tagged Boiler sophomore reliever David Gassner for three runs in the bottom of the fifth.
Junior Mike Byrd (2-0) picked up the victory for Vanderbilt, striking out 11 in seven innings.
Sickler and Walker had three hits apiece for Purdue.
The Boilers travel to Louisville, Ky., to take on Kent, Wright State and Louisville on March 6-7.