March 22, 2000
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue baseball team opened their home season with a 10-1 win over the Valparaiso Crusaders. The Boilers banged out 13 hits in the 10-1 win. Purdue moves to 10-6 on the season, while the Crusaders move to 1-10-1. Purdue threw six pitchers on the day.
"Overall, I didn't think that we played very well," Purdue head coach Doug Schreiber said. "Russ Morgan pitched well and the relievers pitched well, but I wasn't very happy with the offense. We can't go three or four innings without a hard hit ball."
Leading the way on the hill for Purdue was senior Russ Morgan. Morgan opened up the game in impressive fashion, carrying a no-hitter into the fifth inning. In an effort to get more pitchers work, Purdue took out Morgan and threw Travis Dorsch (1.0 IP), Heath Uppencamp (1.0 IP), Carlos Gomez (1.0 IP), Jim Davies (0.2 IP) and Matt Skripsky (0.1 IP) Morgan had his best outing of the season, collecting five strikeouts and only walking one. Dorsch managed to strikeout two and gave up the Crusaders only run.
Leading the way at the plate was Daniel Underwood. The Boilers' right fielder went 3-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Brad Kriner and Erik Frei also had multiple hit games, as both went 2-for-3 on the day. Frei had a solid day hitting in the threes-spot as the senior knocked in three runs.
The Boilers top inning was the fourth, as Purdue knocked in seven of their ten runs and batted around.
"We have to take a different approach against Michigan State," Schreiber said. "It was different for the players going from class to the game. It is an adjustment we will have to make."
Purdue opens their Big Ten season at home with the Michigan State Spartans on Friday, March 24. Purdue will play four games against the Spartans, closing the series on Sunday.