March 21, 2001
The Purdue baseball team returned to the state of Indiana after a week-long trip to California and picked up a 10-1 victory over IUPUI in their first game since the trip.
Four Boilermaker pitchers combined in the effort, allowing Jaguar hitters to nine hits and just one run. They struck out a combined six batters allowed no walks. Freshman Billy Lester takes the win for Purdue, while Matt Ousley was credited with the loss for the Boilermakers.
Purdue scored one run in the first inning as Daniel Underwood led off with a double. Dave Blomberg was hit by a pitch, then both runners advanced on a double steal. Underwood scored when John Gusich reached base on an error by the pitcher.
The Boilermakers added four runs in the top of the second inning. David Harrell led off the inning with his team-leading third home run of the season, making it a sweet homecoming for the Indianapolis native. Brad Kriner singled, advanced to second on Mike Duursma sacrifice bunt, then took third on a wild pitch. Underwood came through with his second hit of the day, a base hit, which scored Kriner. Blomberg picked up his team-leading 10th walk of the season then advanced to second on a Nate Sickler groundout. Nick McIntyre doubled, driving in Blomberg and Underwood. IUPUI got its only run of the game in the bottom of the second inning, a Joe Longenecker solo home run.
Purdue also scored four runs in the top of the fourth. Kriner led off the inning by reaching base on an error. He also stole second base. Underwood walked, followed by a Blomberg single, which loaded the bases. Sickler drilled a single through the left side of the infield, scoring Kriner and Underwood. Blomberg held at second, then scored on McIntyre's second double of the game. Sickler scored on a throwing error by the rightfielder.
Purdue closed its scoring in the sixth inning, as Blomberg added the 10th run of the game. He singled and stole second. McIntyre and Gusich walked to load the bases. Blomberg scored when Kris Luce was hit by a pitch. Luce was credited with his team-leading 13th RBI with the hit by pitch.
Pitching-wise for the Boilermakers, Sean O'Neil made his third start of the season, pitching two innings, striking out three and giving up one run. Billy Lester made his sixth appearance of the season, pitching two scoreless innings and allowing just two hits. Freshman Dustin Glant made his collegiate debut, pitching three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and striking out one. Jim Davies put the Jaguars to rest, pitching the final two innings, striking out two.
Purdue returns to action on Friday when it hosts its first home series of the season, as well as its first Big Ten matchup of the year, against defending conference champion Minnesota. First pitch is at 3 p.m. at Lambert Field.