Feb. 19, 2000
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Junior David Gassner (Hortonville, Wis.) pitched a complete game, leading Purdue to a 4-1 win over Vanderbilt on Saturday. The lefthander gave up just four hits while striking out nine batters to lead the Boilers to their first win of the season (1-1).
"One of my roles this year was to help keep us in every ball game I pitch," said Gassner.
Gassner did just that, holding the Commodores scoreless until the seventh inning when they scored their lone run of the game to make it 1-1. The Boilers first run of the game came on a bases loaded walk to junior center fielder Nate Sickler (Hinckley, Minn.) in the fifth inning. Purdue's bats were quiet until the ninth inning when they exploded for three runs on just two hits.
"We have really good hitters on this team and I was just trying to keep us close until they got going," Gassner said. "They really came through in the ninth. I also have to give our fielders a lot of credit, they played a heck of a game behind me."
The bats came alive in the cold weather for the Boilermakers. Despite a temperature of 36 degrees and cloudy skies the Boilers were able to string together nine hits.
Purdue took advantage of poor fielding and timely hitting to score the game's crucial three runs in the ninth. Junior second baseman David Blomberg (Brookfield, Wis.) led off the inning with a double and advanced to third on a fielding error by Vanderbilt's left fielder. He scored on a fielder's choice by catcher Eric Frei (Rome, NY) and error on the Commodores shortstop Ulises Cabrera. Frei later scored on a suicide squeeze bunt laid down by freshman right fielder Dan Underwood (Bedford, Ind.). The Boilers added one more run in the inning on a two-out single by Kris Luce, his second hit of the game.
Blomberg was a catalyst of the Purdue offense all day, reaching base in all five plate appearances. After reaching on an error in the first inning, he walked three straight times and then doubled to lead off the ninth. Blomberg also stole two bases and now has three in the first two games of the season.
"One of the roles that we asked him to fill this season is to get on base and steal when he has a chance," head coach Doug Schreiber said. "He's been swinging the bat well and playing good defense and he really has started the season with a more mature attitude."
Freshman Brad Kriner (Indianapolis) started at designated hitter for the Boilermakers and collected a solid single in his first collegiate at-bat. Kriner went on to add another hit, a walk and a stolen base while hitting the ball hard in all four times at the plate.
Coach Schreiber was pleased with the performance he got out of Gassner in his first start of the season.
"He really fulfilled his role today," Schreiber said. "He pitched very well, he did a good job of locating his fastball, Vanderbilt is a free-swinging team and the placement of his fastball really helped the effectiveness of his changeup."
Gassner was a little bit surprised that he ended up going the distance in his first outing.
"I wouldn't have expected to pitch a complete game the first time out, but I felt really good today," Gassner said.
Gassner, a Hortonville, Wis. native said he felt very comfortable pitching in the cooler temperature. Coach Schreiber said he planned on bringing in senior reliever Andy Helmer (Fort Wayne, Ind.) but decided to let Gassner finish it out.
"Gassner does a real good job of fielding his position and holding runners close so I decided to leave him in there."
The Boilermaker and Commodores will finish out the three-game series with a 1 p.m. start on Sunday at McGugin Field. Purdue will start junior right hander Ben Quick (Hemet, Calif.) while Vanderbilt will start Andy Beal (0-1).