May 17, 2002
Box Score
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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue dropped game one of its final conference series of the season at Michigan, 6-3, on a two-out walk-off grand slam.
Daniel Underwood singled to lead off the fourth inning and later scored on a Kris Luce sacrifice bunt to give Purdue the first run of the game for a 1-0 lead.
The Wolverines drew even in the bottom of the sixth when Jake Fox hit a solo home run over the left field fence making it a 1-1 game.
Michigan took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning when Blake Rutkowski singled home Matt Butler, who had doubled earlier in the frame.
Purdue loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the ninth inning before John Gusich knotted the game at two on a sacrifice fly, scoring John Manuel, who was pinch-running for Kris Luce. Adam Fazio then delivered a pinch-hit sacrifice fly to center field to score Mitch Koester for a 3-2 lead.
The first two Wolverines reached base in the bottom of the ninth before Brock Koman grounded out to move the runners up to second and third. Matt Butler was thrown out at the plate on a ground ball to Gusich for the second out of the inning. Michigan loaded the bases with two outs and down to his last strike, Mike Sokol hit a game-winning grand slam over the right field wall for the win.
Chadd Blasko threw 6.2 innings in his first start since May 4, scattering seven hits while allowing one run and striking out three without allowing a walk.
The Boilermakers, 23-30 on the season, 12-17 in Big Ten play, resume their series against the Wolverines with a Saturday doubleheader at Ray Fisher Stadium beginning at 1 p.m. EDT.
Purdue 000 100 002 - 3 5 1Michigan 000 001 104 - 6 12 2
W: Korecky (5-6); Coudron (3-6);HR: Fox (9), Sokol (2).