March 13, 1999
BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Purdue baseball team fell to 1-6 with a 4-1 loss to Illinois State on Saturday in Palm Beach, Fla. It was the first game of Purdue's spring trip, during which the Boilers will play nine games in eight days.
Left-handers Russ Morgan of Purdue and Eric Eckenstahler of Illinois State both went the distance in the game, combining to strike out 19 batters. Morgan allowed 10 hits, but struck out 10 while walking only three. It was the second consecutive game that he has struck out more than 10 hitters.
Offensively, the Boilers managed only five hits in the game. However, Purdue played its best defensive game of the year, playing errorless ball for the first time in 1999.
The Redbirds got on top early with a run in the first inning. They followed with one in each the fourth, fifth and sixth innings.
Purdue's lone run scored in the eighth, as sophomore center fielder Nate Sickler slugged a solo home run to right field, his first of the year.
Purdue will take on Pace and Columbia in Boca Raton, Fla., on Sunday.