April 17, 2002
Box Score
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - With a seven-run ninth inning, Purdue rallied to defeat Eastern Illinois 12-10 in a wild Wednesday afternoon game in Charleston, Ill.
Eastern Illinois opened the scoring in the bottom of the first with three runs of Purdue starter Dustin Glant. Pete Pirman singled to lead off the inning and was followed by a walk to Kirk Walters and a single by Bret Pignatiello. After two strikeouts, Mike Gavin delivered a two-run single to make it 2-0 Panthers. Pignatiello scored on the following at-bat when Ryan Kohl reached on an error for a 3-0 EIU lead.
The Panthers added to their lead in the fourth when Kohl hit a solo home run off reliever Billy Lester.
Purdue got on the board in the fifth inning when Wilson James scored on a wild pitch and David Harrell plated Nick McIntyre on a RBI single to cut the lead to 4-2.
Eastern Illinois regained a three-run advantage in the bottom of the fifth when Pignatiello hit a solo home run for a 5-2 lead.
The Boilermakers rallied to even the score at five with a three-run sixth. Michael Correll scored on a wild pitch and Daniel Underwood later blasted his team-leading fourth homer off the season, a two-run shot over the left-center field fence to draw Purdue even.
EIU regained the lead in the seventh behind a RBI double by Gavin scoring Danny Jordan. Gavin later scored on a Wilson James error as the Panthers scored two runs to take a 7-5 lead.
Tim Aurrichio delivered a eighth-inning pinch-hit for the Panthers, scoring Pirman, for an 8-5 EIU lead and providing the game's final margin.
Purdue loaded the bases to open the ninth inning when McIntyre walked, Kris Luce singled and Harrell reached on an error. John Gusich then laced a single to left, plating McIntyre and Brad Kriner walked forcing home Luce and bringing the Boilermakers within one at 8-7. John Manuel then singled to right scoring Harrell and Gusich to give Purdue its first lead of the game, 9-8. James walked and the bases were loaded with no one out for the second time in the inning. Simon Klink walked to score Kriner and McIntyre tripled home James and Klink to complete the Boilermakers seven-spot for a 12-8 lead.
In the bottom of the ninth, Aaron Shelbourne doubled home Gavin to make it 12-9. Shelbourne scored on Gusich's error, bringing EIU within 12-10 with the tying run on first base before Matt Skripsky nailed down the come-from-behind win for Purdue.
The Boilermakers improve to 17-16 overall and have won 15 of their last 19 games.
The Boilermakers return home to Lambert Field for a weekend series with Iowa, beginning Friday at 3 p.m. All four games against the Hawkeyes will be aired live on WAZY-AM (1410) and on www.purduesports.com.
Additional Game Notes
-The Boilermakers are above .500 for the first time since Feb. 24 when they stood at 2-1.
-Purdue has won seven straight non-conference games and its last three road non-conference games.
-Daniel Underwood's fourth home run of the season equals his previous season-high of four in 2001.
-Brian Karpel notched his first win as a Boilermaker.
-Wilson James set a career-high with three runs scored.
Purdue 000 023 007 - 12 10 4EIU 300 110 212 - 10 14 2
W: Karpel (1-1), L: N. Stone (1-1,HR: Underwood (4), Pignatiello (7), Kohl (2).