March 31, 1999
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue baseball team fell to 10-11 on the season with a 14-5 loss to Valparaiso on Wednesday in Valparaiso, Ind.
The Crusaders (9-10) jumped out to an 4-1 lead after four innings, but the Boilers managed to tie the game in the fifth on junior Daryl Hallada's two-out, three-run home run to center field. The home run was Hallada's fifth on the season, tying him with senior Ryan Cole and sophomore Nate Sickler for the team lead.
Valparaiso took the lead for good with six runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. The Crusaders sent 11 hitters to the plate in the inning, pounding out four hits while drawing three walks. Right fielder Ryan Poepard and shortstop Chris Moore both had two-run singles for Valparaiso. Valparaiso would score twice in the eighth and two more times in the ninth, while holding the Boilers to only one run in the final four innings.
Junior Chris Walker led Purdue with two hits, while picking up his 10th stolen base of the season. Cole extended his hitting streak to 15 games with an RBI single in the eighth.
Purdue will open the Big Ten season this weekend with a four-game series against Minnesota at Lambert Field. The conference opener will take place Friday at 3 p.m.