April 21, 2000
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Following 12 strikeouts and one crack of the bat, the Boilermakers came out on top of the conference-leading Fighting Illini, 4-3. The pitchers' dual featured Ben Quick (5-3) and Jason Anderson (7-2). Quick got the win, going 7.2 innings and giving up only three runs on four hits. The junior college transfer struck out a team-high 12 Illini for a personal and team high this season. The Boilermakers improve to 25-14, 10-7 in the conference, bettering their win mark of last season (24) with 17 games still to play.
"Our hitters came alive against one of the best pitchers in the conference," Purdue head coach Doug Schreiber said. "Defensively, we made the plays when we had to, Quick pitched a great game and Helmer had another strong outing."
With Quick facing one of the Big Ten's top pitchers, the Hemet, Calif., native would have to throw one of his best games of the season to keep his team in the game. Quick not only kept the Boilers in the game, but virtually shut down the high-powered Illini offense. The right-hander worked into 2/3rd's of the fifth inning before he surrendered a hit. To that point he had already matched his season-best output for strikeouts with nine, including striking out the side in the third inning. He would "K" three more batters before the game was over to end the game with 12. Equally impressive through five innings was the Illini-ace, Anderson. The Danville, Ill., native made it through three innings without allowing a hit, and made it through the fifth without a run scoring. With the top of the order coming to bat in the sixth, Anderson gave up a costly walk to lead off hitter Chris Walker. David Blomberg followed with a single to move Walker up and Erik Frei stepped to the plate with no outs. In what would ordinarily be a bunting situation, Frei took a high fastball and drove it over the left field wall for his fourth home run of the season. The three-run shot put the Boilers up 3-0. Brad Kriner led off the seventh inning with a double to again put pressure on the Illini-righty. After Mike Duursma reached on an error by the Illinois second baseman, David Blomberg sacrficed Kriner home for what would turn out to be the winning run.
"It was a bunt situation and there was a lot of movement in their infield," Frei said. "I was just looking for the first good pitch to hit and get it through one of the holes. It was a good day to hit with the wind blowing out and it felt great."
With what appeared to be a safe lead, Purdue pitching coach Gary Adcock left the starter in and Quick reacted by getting two quick outs. However, following a line drive that hit him in the side, the junior seamed to be rattled as he hit a batter and followed that by giving up a double and a triple, consecutively. With the Illini on the doorstep, closing the lead to one run, the Big Ten's save leader, Andy Helmer, was called on to get the Boilers out of trouble. Helmer got out of the eighth, and then shut down the Illini to preserve the one run lead and the Purdue victory. With his 13th save of the season, Hemler tied the all-time career saves mark for Purdue with 15. Helmer is one save away from personally tying the all-time season saves mark for a team, set by the 1986 squad. With Ben Kaebisch's (2-0, 1 save) one save this season, the 2000 Boilermakers have already tied the 1986 team for team saves.
"The unsung heroes have carried us all year," Frei said "We need our big guys to step up now. Hallada is one of the best hitters I have played with and Walker is going to be there so we just need to take it upon ourselves to turn things around."
The Boilers will play game two and three in tomorrow's double header beginning at 1:00 p.m.