May 11, 2003
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Purdue nine smashed out season highs in runs, hits and doubles as the Boilermakers completed a double header sweep of Indiana by winning Game Two, 20-4. With the win, Purdue clinched the Titan Series, the head-to-head competition between Purdue and Indiana for overall athletics bragging rights.
Purdue's 20 runs, 24 hits and nine doubles established season bests in each category. The 20-run effort was the most scored by a Purdue team since defeating Northwestern 20-11 on April 7, 2001.
The Boilermakers began the game much the way they began the first game on Sunday, by scoring in the first inning. This time, Purdue put together a two-out rally with a single by Daniel Underwood, a walk by Simon Klink and a two-run double that dropped in down the left field line off the bat of Ben Fritz.
Indiana answered with a run in the bottom of the first on an RBI single to left by Nick Evans that scored Corby Heckman from second base.
Purdue didn't wait for two outs in the second before scoring as Brad Kriner laced a double into the gap in left-center and John Hunter, a product of West Lafayette's Harrison High School, drove his first collegiate home run over the right field wall to jump the Boilermaker lead to 4-1. The power kept going in the inning as Underwood lofted a three-run homer just inside the right field foul pole and Nick McIntyre cleared the right field wall with a three-run blast. Underwood's second home run of the day and tenth of the year scored Rempel and Koester, while McIntyre's jack, his 11th this season, plated Klink and Fritz, capping the second eight-run inning of the day for Purdue.
The Hoosiers scored a single run in the second inning on a base hit to left field by Seth Bynum brought Kevin Mahar around from second, making the score 10-2 in favor of the Boilermakers.
Back-to-back Boilermaker doubles in the third inning extended the advantage back to nine runs as Klink doubled down the right field line and Fritz drove him home with a shot off the center field fence that missed being a home run by two feet.
A barage of two-base hits for Purdue continued in the fifth inning as Klink, Fritz and Koester each connected for doubles en route to a four-run frame. Klink doubled with one out and scored on Fritz' two-base knock to center. The doubles were the third of the game for each Klink and Fritz. McIntyre picked up an RBI with a single, moved to third on a base hit by Hunter, and both runners scored on a double by Koester to make the score 15-2 Purdue.
The Boilermakers added a single run in the sixth on a single by Rempel, a wild pitch and an RBI double by Underwood, his fourth hit of the game.
Indiana plated two runs in the home half of the sixth on an RBI single by Chris Hynes that scored Vasili Spanos and
Purdue got its 22nd hit of the game, setting the season-best for the team, came in the seventh on a leadoff single by Kriner. Eric Wolfe followed with a pinch-hit single and Matt Bush walked to load the bases. Rempel was hit with a pitch to force home Kriner, and Underwood drove a double to center field to plate Wolfe and Bush with his fifth and sixth RBI of the game, tying a season high.
Scott Bynres (3-5) pitched the first five innings for the Boilermakers to pick up the win. Byrnes allowed two runs on five hits while striking out five. Trae Dauby and Dustin Glant each threw one inning of relief to knock down the win.
Daniel Underwood spearheaded the offensive attack for the Boilermakers, tying season highs with five hits and six RBI. For the game, the senior was 5-6 with two runs, two doubles, a home run and a stolen base.
Ben Fritz went 4-6 at the plate with three doubles, two runs scored and four RBI. Nick McIntyre also drove in four runs on two hits, including his team-leading 11th homer. Six other Boilermakers collected at least two hits, with Mitch Koester and Simon Klink knocking out three each.
Klink's three hits all went for two bases, upping his team-leading total to 20 doubles, one behind Nate Sickler's 2001 season-record of 21.
The Boilermakers and Hoosiers return to the diamond at Sembower Field on Monday for a 1 p.m. double header.