May 9, 1999
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The Purdue baseball team scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to beat Penn State 7-6 on Sunday at Lambert Field.
The Boilers (21-26 overall, 8-13 Big Ten) lost a 5-1 lead in the top of the eighth, when Penn State (28-20, 8-12) knocked Purdue left-hander David Gassner from the game with five runs in the inning. Gassner, who allowed only three hits in the first seven innings, gave up consecutive singles to center fielder Michael Campo and shortstop John Richmond to start the eighth. Third baseman Shawn Fagan, right fielder Dan Beers and catcher Chris Netwall followed with back-to-back-to-back home runs to give the Nittany Lions a 6-5 lead.
The Boilers answered with two runs in the bottom half off Penn State reliever Andy Wager. Senior Todd Ellinger led off with a single and reached third on a two-base error by Campo in center field. After retiring the next two hitters, Wager hit sophomore David Blomberg to put runners on the corners. Senior Ryna Bettencourt followed with a ground ball to second, which was misplayed by Penn State second baseman Eric Spadt, allowing Ellinger to score. Junior Chris Walker followed with a single to center, scoring Blomberg with the winning run.
Sophomore Ben Kaebisch (4-1) earned the win by retiring the last six batters of the game, including three consecutive strikeouts in the ninth.
Junior catcher Erik Frei had two hits for Purdue, including his eighth home run of the season. Ellinger and sophomore Nate Sickler both had two hits for the Boilers.
The four-game series between the two teams continues with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. Monday at Lambert Field.