April 17, 1999
Game 1 Box Score | Game 2 Box Score
IOWA CITY, Iowa - The Purdue baseball team swept a double header from Iowa on Saturday in Iowa City. The Boilers won the opener 3-1 and took the nightcap 10-8. Purdue improves to 15-20 overall and 4-7 in the Big Ten.
In the first game, Iowa (15-22, 3-12) starter Steve Rasmussen (4-3) held Purdue hitless until the sixth inning, with Iowa clinging to a 1-0 lead. Senior second baseman Ryan Bettencourt was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and stole second base. After one out, junior Daryl Hallada broke up Rasmussen's no-hit bid with a single to right. Junior Erik Frei's sacrifice fly to center field scored pinch runner David Blomberg, tying the game at 1-1.
Purdue took the lead with two more runs in the seventh inning. Sophomore Mike Rose led off with a double and scored on a double by sophomore Nate Sickler. Sickler advanced to third on a fly out and scored on senior Todd Ellinger's sacrifice fly to left field, giving Purdue a 3-1 lead.
Sophomore right-hander Austin Bilke (2-4) earned the complete-game victory, allowing eight hits while striking out four.
In the second game, the Boilers scored seven runs in the final two innings to rally from a three-run deficit. Trailing 6-3 in the sixth, Purdue scored three runs to tie the game. The inning was highlighted by Ellinger's RBI single and a two-run single by Blomberg.
The Hawkeyes took the lead with two runs in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run home run by first baseman Brad Carlson, his 14th of the season.
The Boilers responded with four two-out runs in the seventh. With one out, senior Ryan Cole tripled off the right field wall. After Rose popped out to right, Purdue followed with four consecutive two-out hits. Sickler, Ellinger, freshman Kris Luce and Blomberg each drove in a run in the inning.
Junior left-hander Russ Morgan (2-3) picked up his second win of the season with four strikeouts in seven innings.
Purdue will try for the series sweep Sunday with the fourth and final game of the series at 1 p.m. in Iowa City.