April 21, 1999
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The Purdue baseball team used a four-run seventh inning to erase a one-run deficit and defeat Illinois State 6-3 on Wednesday at Lambert Field. The Boilers improve to 16-21 overall, while the Redbirds fall to 22-16.
The Redbirds got on the board early on a solo home run by leadoff hitter Ryan Knox in the top of the first inning.
Illinois State increased the lead with a run in the fourth inning. Third baseman Jason Sands hit a one-out triple and scored on a sacrifice fly to center by left fielder Ed Tolzien to give the Redbirds a 2-0 lead.
Purdue answered with a run in the fifth. Sophomore right fielder Mike Rose reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on an error. One out later, senior designated hitter Todd Ellinger doubled to right, scoring Rose and cutting the Redbirds' lead in half.
Purdue trailed until the seventh, when the Boilers touched the Illinois State pitching staff for four runs. Junior catcher Erik Frei started the inning with a single and moved into scoring position on a ground out. After Rose walked, sophomore center fielder Nate Sickler doubled, scoring two runs to give Purdue a one-run lead. Following an intentional walk to Ellinger, sophomore David Blomberg lined a pinch-hit single to left, bringing home Sickler. Senior second baseman Ryan Bettencourt then bunted home Ellinger to give Purdue a 5-2 lead.
Illinois State scored once in the eighth, but Frei answered with a solo home run, his fifth of the season, in the bottom half of the inning.
Purdue Freshman right-hander Travis Dorsch (1-0) picked up his first victory of the season, allowing one run and one hit in two innings of relief. Freshman southpaw Heath Uppencamp tossed two scoreless innings to earn his first save.
Illinois State starter David Schoeberlein (1-1) got the loss, despite allowing only three hits and two earned runs in 6-1/3 innings.
The Boilers return to conference action this weekend with a four-game series against Northwestern on April 23-25 at Lambert Field. The series begins Friday with a single game at 3 p.m.