March 28, 1999
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue baseball team won it's fifth game in a row Sunday, March 28, at Lambert field defeating Northern Illinois 9-8 in ten innings. With the victory the Boilermakers move to 10-10 on the season while the Huskies drop to 2-13.
The Huskies jumped out to an early 2-0 lead but the Boilers would score seven unanswered runs over their first three innings. Senior Ryan Cole put the first two runs on the board for Purdue with his two-out, two-run double in the first inning.
After picking up another run in the second, the Boilers would add four in the third. With Daryl Hallada on first, junior Eric Frei delivered on a two-run homerun, his third of the season. Four batters later, freshman Kris Luce connected on a two-run homerun of his own, giving the Boilers a 7-2 lead.
The Huskies would score six runs over the final five innings to tie the game at 8-8 at the end of nine. Sophomore pitcher Ben Kaebisch held the Huskies scoreless in the top of the tenth, getting three ground ball outs.
In the bottom of the tenth, Cole led things off with a single and then stole second base. Then with one out, Luce singled to center and Cole crossed home plate giving the Boilers the 9-8 victory.
The victory went to Kaebisch improving his record to 3-1. Austin Bilke started the contest for the Boilers and went seven innings, giving up five earned runs.
Cole went four for five on the day including a double and two stolen bases. Hallada, Frei and Luce each had two hits in the victory.
Purdue travels to Valparaiso on Wednesday for a 3:00 game. The will open up Big Ten play on Friday, April 2, at Lambert field against the Golden Gophers of Minnesota. The Gophers will be in town for a four game set.