March 8, 2002
Box Score
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue fell 5-3 at No. 2 Clemson in the first game of a ten-day, eight-game road trip on Friday.
Clemson jumped out to an early 1-0 in the bottom of the first inning when shortstop Khalil Greene belted his second home run of the season to right field. It was the first home run hit this season off Purdue starter Chadd Blasko.
The Boilermakers answered and took a 3-1 lead in the top of the third when Daniel Underwood extended his hitting streak to 20 games in grand fashion, with a three-run homer. John Manuel who reached base when he was hit by pitch and Wilson James who reached with a bunt single also scored on the play. Purdue tallied four hits in the inning.
The homestanding Tigers cut the margin to 3-2 in the bottom of the third when Greene singled home L.J. DeMaino who reached base on a controversial hit by pitch call.
Clemson knotted the score at three in the fifth when Kyle Frank hit a solo home run to right field. The Tigers took the lead in the next inning, scoring two runs in Blasko's final inning of work.
Fort Wayne, Ind., native Steve Reba limited the Boilermakers to five hits on the afternoon and went the distance to up his season record to 3-0.
Luke Howard (1.1 innings) and Heath Uppencamp (0.2) combined for three scoreless innings out of the bullpen for Purdue.
The Boilermakers, 2-6, resume play on Saturday with a 2 p.m. (ET) tussle with the Tigers in game two of the three game series. Right-hander Dustin Glant (0-0, 1.69) will take the mound for Purdue and will be opposed by the Tigers' Michael Henrie.
Additional Game Notes
-Daniel Underwood extended his hitting streak to 20 games (dating to 4/29/01 at Indiana). -Underwood's home run was his first since a two-homer performance on 4/21/01 at Illinois.
-Today's game marked the first time this season that Purdue did not steal a base in a game.
-Today was the first game that the Boilermakers have played against a school from the Palmetto State.
Purdue 003 000 000 - 3 5 1
Clemson 101 012 00x - 5 10 0
W: Reba (3-0), L: Blasko (1-1)
HR: Underwood (1), Greene (2), Frank (1)