March 13, 2004
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Three Boilermaker pitchers combined to limit No. 31 Alabama-Birmingham to two runs on seven hits as Purdue defeated the Blazers 4-2 on Saturday afternoon.
Dan Sattler (Fr., West Lafayette, Ind.) made the start on the mound for Purdue, his first of the season. The Boilermakers spotted Sattler a lead in the second inning with a pair of runs. Designated hitter John Hunter (So., West Lafayette, Ind.) led off the frame with a single and advanced to third on two wild pitches. First baseman Eric Wolfe (So., Toronto, Ontario) then delivered a two-out single to left-center field scoring Hunter. Left fielder Joe Hartman (Fr., Batesville, Ind.) stepped up to the plate next and hit a ground ball forcing UAB second baseman Josh Miljavac to range far to his left. Miljavac scooped up the ball but his throw to first base was wide and was deflected into the dugout. The miscue allowed Wolfe to score all the way from first and sent Hartman, who was given a single on the play, to third. UAB was able to escape further damage in the inning after falling behind 2-0.
Purdue extended its lead to 3-0 in the fourth. Hartman singled and was moved to second when shortstop Mitch Koester (Sr., Effingham, Ill.) was hit by a pitch. Hartman came around to score on a base hit off the bat of center fielder Mike Coles (Jr., Hammond, Ind.). Coles, who added a triple in his next at bat, has hit safely in each of Purdue's eight games.
After allowing just one base runner through the first three innings, Sattler surrendered an unearned run the fourth. The run would be the only one allowed on the day by Sattler, who pitched five innings, gave up just four hits, struck out three and walked none.
Catcher Ben Fritz (Sr., Minnetonka, Minn.) helped Sattler out of a two-out jam in the fifth with Blazer base runners on first and second. After a pitch to the third hitter in the UAB order, Fritz caught Zac Ward leaning too far off second base and fired the ball to Koester who applied the tag in time, ending the inning.
Jason Driscoll (Sr., Mishawaka, Ind.) took over for Sattler in the sixth and pitched three innings, giving up one run on one hit while striking out four. After allowing a two-out run in the sixth, Driscoll sat down the next seven UAB hitters consecutively.
Leading 3-2, Purdue added an insurance run in the top of the ninth. Coles and third baseman Simon Klink (Sr., Auburn, Ind.) walked and then executed a double steal to make it second and third. Second baseman Eric Osborn (Fr., Fishers, Ind.) connected for his second single of the game, driving home Coles.
Trae Dauby pitched a scoreless ninth for Purdue, recording two strike outs and picking up his second save of the season. Sattler earned the win for the Boilermakers to even his record at 1-1.
Purdue improved to 3-5 on the season with the win as UAB fell to 10-5. The Boilermakers will look to complete the sweep of the Blazers on Sunday afternoon in the finale of their three-game series at Perry Memorial Field. The game is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. EST.