March 14, 2003
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - The Purdue baseball team got back into the win column with a 7-0 blanking of Middle Tennessee State at Reese Smith Field in Murfreesboro, Tenn. The win lifts the Boilermakers' record to 5-3 while the Blue Raiders drop to 5-8.
Purdue starter Mitch Pruemer tossed seven innings of shutout ball, striking out seven and yielding just two hits, improving his record to 2-0 on the year.
The Old Gold and Black wasted little time getting on the scoreboard, as the Boilermakers scored two first-inning runs against MTSU. Tyler Johnstone led the game off with a single up the middle and moved to second when John Manuel was hit by a pitch. A fielder's choice forced Manuel out at second base and Chad Reeves singled to right to drive home Johnstone, and moved Daniel Underwood to second. A Simon Klink single to right field loaded the bases for Neal Gorka, whose sacrifice fly to center scored Underwood to make the score 2-0.
One inning later, Mitch Koester drew a one-out walk and moved to second one out later when Manuel walked. Underwood drilled a basehit up the middle to plate Koester with the Boilermakers' third run.
In the top of the third inning, Purdue increased its lead to 4-0 with another single run. Klink singled to left to leadoff the inning and reached second on Gorka's fielder's choice when MTSU pitcher John Williams threw the ball into center field. With two outs, Koester singled to right field to score Klink from second base.
In the eighth inning, Brent Coudron replaced Pruemer on the mound for Purdue and held the Blue Raiders in check. With two outs, Coudron surrendered his first hit of the season after 9.1 innings pitched.
With the score 4-0 entering the ninth inning, the Boilermaker offense got back into action with a three-run set. Koester was hit by a pitch to start the inning and advanced abase on Johnstone's single. After a change of pitchers, Manuel doubled to score Koester and push Johnstone to third. Underwood received a free pass, forcing another pitching change by the Blue Raiders. With the bases full, Reeves singled up the middle for two more RBI, scoring Johnstone and Manuel for the final runs of the game.
Purdue closer Dustin Glant took the hill in the home half of the ninth and record three strikeouts to end the contest.
In the game, Reeves and Kink collected three hits apiece and Reeves chimed in for three RBI. Johnstone and Underwood each had two hits in the contest, and Johnstone and Koester led the team with two runs scored. Purdue out-hit MTSU, 13-3, as the Boilermaker pitching staff recorded its second combined shutout of the year.
Purdue returns to the diamond against Middle Tennessee State for game two of the three-game series Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m.