April 25, 2001
The Boilermaker baseball team returned home for one game in preparation for a crucial Big Ten series at Indiana, losing a 6-5 decision to Xavier. Billy Lester (3-2) gets credit for the loss while Matt Raih gets the win.
Freshman Dustin Glant made his first collegiate start today. The Fort Wayne native pitched the first three innings of the ball game, only allowing an unearned run and striking out one batter, while giving up just four hits.
Purdue trailed 1-0 until getting two runs back in the third inning. Mike Duursma led off the inning by reaching base on a fielding error by the first baseman. He went to second on Daniel Underwood's fielder's choice. Underwood was safe at first, as Xavier shortstop Jason Morelli was unsuccessful in his double play attempt. Duursma was safe at second. Underwood was put out on Dave Blomberg's fielder's choice. Duursma later scored on a throwing error by starting pitcher Greg Wiggers. After Blomberg was picked off, Nick McIntyre hit his second home run in three games, a shot that went off the Purdue scoreboard, giving the Boilermakers a 2-1 lead.
The Boilermakers added three runs in the fifth inning. Duursma led off the inning again, this time with a single. He scored on Underwood's sixth double of the season. He advanced to third on a wild pitch. Blomberg walked, then stole his team-leading 13th base of the season. Both runners scored on a McIntyre single to center field.
Leading 5-1, the Boilermakers gave up four unearned runs in the top of the sixth inning as they send ten batters to the playe, tying the score at 5-5. The Musketeers had six hits in the inning. Ben Kaebisch pitched two-thirds of the eighth inning before being relieved by Carlos Gomez, who made his 2001 season debut. Kaebisch was credited with allowing the four runs, all of which were unearned due to a fielding error in foul territory by Brad Kriner. With the bases loaded, Gomez was able to get Ty Brenning to ground into a fielder's choice, forcing out the runner at second.
The seventh inning was highlighted by Dave Blomberg's 12th double of the season, which extended his hit streak to 24 games. Blomberg was in scoring position with two outs in the inning, but did not advance. Xavier added one more run in the top of the eighth as Eric Greenwell scored on a Jarret Sues single to center field.
Purdue is now 24-17 overall, still with a winning record of 6-4 at home. They return to action this weekend as they travel to Bloomington, Ind., for a four-game series with prime rival Indiana.