March 31, 2002
Box Score
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue defeated Penn State, 10-6, in Sunday's series finale at University Park, Pa., for their third-straight win and seventh in their last eight games. The victory was the 100th win for head coach Doug Schreiber at Purdue, one of just five coaches in school history to reach the plateau.
The Boilermakers opened the scoring with three runs in the top of the third. Adam Fazio singled home Mitch Koester, who had doubled, for the game's first run. Fazio later scored on an error that allowed Nick McIntyre to reach base. McIntyre eventually scored on David Harrell's sacrifice bunt giving Purdue a 3-0 lead.
Penn State trimmed the margin to 3-2 in the bottom of the third when Clint Eury singled home two runs.
Purdue extended its advantage to 7-2 in the fourth with four runs in the inning. Wilson James tripled home Andy Rempel and Brad Kriner and scored on Fazio's RBI double. Fazio later scored on an error by Penn State second baseman Mike DeRenzo.
The Nittany Lions trimmed the margin to 7-3 in the bottom half of the inning on Matt Harter's solo home run.
The Boilermakers again extended their lead with two runs in the fifth for a 9-3 advantage. Kriner's RBI single plated Simon Klink and James doubled home Kriner for his third RBI of the contest.
Penn State scored two runs in the fifth, but Purdue answered with a run in the eighth when John Gusich's RBI groundout brought home McIntyre, giving the Boilermakers a 10-5 lead.
The Nittany Lions scored on run in the bottom of the ninth when Brian Bishop hit a solo homer to cut the lead to 10-6 for the game's final margin.
Sean O'Neil got the win for Purdue, upping his season record to 2-1. Billy Lester pitched the final four innings of the game, allowing one earned run on just two hits.
Offensively, six Boilermakers recorded doubles in the game, including James' who added a triple.
Purdue, 9-13 and 3-1, returns home for a Wednesday afternoon (April 3 at 3 p.m.) contest vs. Ball State at Lambert Field. Fans can hear the game locally on WAZY-AM (1410) and on the web at www.purduesports.com. The Boilermakers next conference series begins Friday at Illinois.
Additional Game Notes
-Head coach Doug Schreiber won his 100th game at Purdue and as a head coach, in his 190th game at the school. Only four coaches have more wins than Schreiber has posted in his three-plus seasons, Dave Alexander (407 in 14 seasons), Joe Sexson (221 in 18 seasons), Ward Lambert (163 in 20 seasons) and Steve Green (162 in seven seasons).
-Sean O'Neil's victory was the 10th of his collegiate career. He is 10-4 and his .714 winning percentage is the fourth-best mark in school history.
-Wilson James established Boilermaker bests with three RBI and two hits, the first double and first triple of his Purdue career.
-Adam Fazio has hit safely in eight straight games dating to March 17 at Coastal Carolina. He also equaled his Boilermaker best with two runs scored in the game, accomplished once prior, vs. Miami on March 23.
-Brad Kriner equaled a career-best with two runs scored, previously accomplished seven times, last vs. Indiana State on May 6, 2001.
-Purdue is 11-5 with three series victories in four years against Penn State under Schreiber.
-Purdue's seven extra-base hits (six doubles and one triple) were a season high.
-Nick McIntyre stole five bases in the four-game series.
Purdue 003 420 010 - 10 9 1
PSU 002 120 001 - 6 10 3
W: O'Neil (2-1), L: Palm (1-1),
HR: Harter, Bishop.