May 14, 2003
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermaker nine won for the sixth consecutive time in non-conference games, defeating Eastern Illinois at Lambert Field 5-2. Nick McIntyre's first triple of the season drove home two runs in the third inning and gave Purdue enough for its 26th win of the season.
The win snapped a two-game losing streak, and is just the third win for Purdue in the last 13 games. Purdue improved to 26-25 while the Panthers dropped to 22-28.
The Boilermakers' Daniel Underwood (1-2) got the call on the mound and responded with 4.0 innings pitched, yielding three hits and one run while striking out six Panther batters to record his first collegiate win. Dustin Glant was the final of four relievers, picking up his fourth save with a perfect ninth inning of work.
Eastern Illinois scored first, getting an RBI double in the second inning from Pete Stone to left-center that fell just out of the reach of a diving Andy Rempel to score Kirk Walters from second base.
Purdue answered in the bottom of the third with three runs, all coming with two outs. Underwood started the two-out rally with a single through the right side of the infield and advanced to second when Simon Klink walked. Ben Fritz' line drive up the middle could not be caught by EIU's shortstop, Kyle Haines, to load the bases. Pitcher Jason Pinnel, who entered the game for the Panthers to start the third inning, balked home Underwood for Purdue's first run, and McIntyre laced a 2-2 offering to the wall in right-center for the three-base hit, driving in Klink and Fritz.
The Purdue lead was cut to 3-2 in the fifth when Eastern Illinois posted a run against new Boilermaker hurler Trae Dauby. Haines singled up the middle with two out to plate Jeff Cammann from second.
The Boilermakers added two insurance runs in the seventh to move to the final score. With Underwood on third after a walk and a single by Klink, Fritz layed down a bunt towards first base that went for an RBI single. Brad Kriner's grounder to short was misplayed, allowing Klink to score the game's final run.
Ben Fritz and Eric Wolfe each had 2-4 afternoons at the plate with Fritz scoring and driving in a run. Daniel Underwood and Simon Klink scored two runs each, and Nick McIntyre drove in two runs.
The Boilermakers conclude the regular season this weekend in a Big Ten series against the Michigan Wolverines. The series opens with a 3 p.m. game on Friday. Purdue must win all four games to have a chance at postseason play.