Feb. 24, 2002
Box Score
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.-The No. 23 Boilermakers rebounded from yesterday's loss with a 6-4 victory over Texas-San Antonio in the rubber game of the season-opening series.
Purdue opened the scoring in the second inning when Brad Kriner singled home David Harrell, who reached base when he was hit by a Scott Sanders pitch. Harrell stole second base and moved to third when John Manuel singled to left.
Harrell belted the team's first round-tripper of the season in the third inning, a two-run shot. Daniel Underwood had reached base earlier in the inning with a single, extending his hit streak to 15 games.
Texas-San Antonio got on the board in the fourth inning when Shane Menn singled home Justin Brandt, cutting the Purdue lead to 3-1.
UTSA's Dustin Perez singled in Mark Schramek to cut the Boilermaker lead to 3-2 in the sixth inning, chasing Purdue starter Mitch Pruemer in the process. Freshman Scott Byrnes replaced Pruemer and stifled the Roadrunner threat with a two-out strikeout of Danny Phillips.
Purdue extended its lead to 4-2 in the seventh when Daniel Underwood's grounder back the mound scored Andy Rempel on an errant throw home by Sanders. Rempel led-off the inning with a drag bunt, advanced to second base on a throwing error and moved to third on Wilson James' groundout.
The Boilermakers added two insurance runs, later proving to be key, in the ninth off Roadrunner errors. Rempel scored when Underwood reached safely on a throw that pulled the first baseman off the bag. Underwood later scored all the way from first on a play involving two errors, an errant pickoff attempt and a dropped ball by the catcher on the throw home.
UTSA scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth and had the bases loaded before Dustin Glant recorded the final out of the game, garnering his first career save along the way.
Pruemer was solid in his Purdue debut, throwing 5.2 innings, scattering eight hits and allowing two runs. Byrnes allowed just two hits in 3.0 innings of relief work in his collegiate debut.
The Boilermakers return to action on Thursday night when they face Cal State Northridge in Lancaster, Calif.
Additional Game Notes
-Daniel Underwood extended his hitting streak to 15 games (dating to 4/29/01 at Indiana).
-David Harrell registered his third career stolen base in the second inning. The steal tied his career game high of one, set twice previously. His last steal came on 4/15/01 against Penn State.
-Harrell's home run was the seventh of his career and first Purdue homer since the 2001 finale on 5/17 vs. Michigan (also by Harrell).
-The 2002 season is the third-straight 2-1 start by the Boilermakers. Last season Purdue opened 2-1, taking the Coca-Cola Classic championship in Houston.
Purdue 012 000 102 - 6 11 0
UTSA 000 101 002 - 4 11 7
W: Pruemer (1-0), L: Sanders (1-2), SV: Glant (1)
HR: Harrell (1)