April 25, 2004
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue baseball was unable to complete the elusive Big Ten sweep on Sunday, falling to Michigan State in the series finale, 12-1. The Boilermaker bats were limited to just three hits while MSU slugged three home runs in the contest.
Purdue is now 19-18 overall and 9-7 in the Big Ten, currently tied for third behind Michigan and Minnesota. The Wolverines and Golden Gopers are each 10-6, tied for first. Michigan State is 20-18 with the win, 8-8 in conference action.
For the first time in the four-game series, Purdue never led in Sunday's contest. Michigan State posted four runs in the third inning and never looked back. A three-run home run to left by James Moreno was the MSU highlight in the frame.
After the four-run outburst by the Spartans, Purdue answered with one run in the home half of the third inning. Junior Andy Dahl (Fair Oaks, Calif.) singled on the infield and moved to second on a wild pitch. After junior Mike Coles (Hammond, Ind.) drew a one-out walk, the base runners were successful on a double steal. Freshman Joe Hartman (Batesville, Ind.) grounded out to the shortstop, driving Dahl home from third with the Purdue run.
Boilermaker pitching could not keep MSU down as the Spartans delivered a knockout blow in the fourth with a five-run inning. Erik Morris golfed an low and outside pitch up into the 20MPH wind to left and sent the ball over the fence for a two-run shot, and Sean Walker belted a two-run homer over the protective screen in left to cap the inning.
Two insurance runs in the eighth and another in the ninth solidified the win for the Spartans, giving John Dwan his second win of the season against zero losses.
Sophomore hurler Chris Toneguzzi (Thunder Bay, Ontario) was hit with the loss after the right-hander allowed eight runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings of work. Toneguzzi is now 2-3 on the season.
The Boilermaker offense could not get on track against MSU pitching on Sunday, picking up base hits in the first, third and fifth innings, and stranding five runners on base. MSU out-hit the Boilermakers 15-3.
Purdue plays a nonconference game on Tuesday, April 27, at Wizards Stadium in Fort Wayne against IPFW. First pitch is scheduled for 7PM. The Boilermakers return to Big Ten action next weekend in Minneapolis where they start a four-game series with Minnesota on Friday, April 30, at 7PM.