April 9, 2004
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue and Ohio State were involved in a pitchers duel on Friday afternoon at Lambert Field, and the Boilermakers came up just short in a 3-2 loss to the Buckeyes. The loss dropped the Boilermakers to 2-3 in the Big Ten and 11-13 overall.
Junior pitcher Scott Byrnes (Cincinnati, Ohio) went 7.0 innings on the mound, striking out seven and allowing four hits, but was hit with the loss. Byrnes is now 2-3 on the season.
Ohio State's Josh Newman (5-3) was credited with the win after going 8.2 innings with 10 strikeouts, his second consecutive 10+ strikeout performance of the season. Trent Luyster retired the final batter of the game for his second save of the year.
The Boilermakers got on the scoreboard first with a run in the fourth inning on two Ohio State miscues. Junior Mike Coles (CF, Hammond, Ind.) led off with a dribbler down the third base line that was mishandled, allowing Coles to reach first safely. Coles moved to second on a bunt by junior Andy Dahl (RF, Fair Oaks, Calif.), and Dahl was safe at first when the throw from Newman struck the Boilermaker in the back for a second consecutive OSU error. A successful sacrifice by senior Ben Fritz (C, Minnetonka, Minn.) moved the base runners up 90 feet, and Coles scored from third on a sacrifice fly to right by sophomore John Hunter (DH, West Lafayette, Ind.).
The Purdue lead did not last long as Ohio State (12-11, 4-1) answered with two runs in the top of the fifth. Derek Kinnear reached first on a fielder's choice and scored when Drew Anderson connected on the first pitch from Byrnes for a two-run home run off the scoreboard in right center.
Ohio State extended its lead to 3-1 in the eighth against senior reliever Jason Driscoll (Mishawaka, Ind.) on two hits. With one down, Steve Caravati singled through the left side of the infield to plate Jacob Howell, who had doubled down the left field line.
The Boilermakers closed the gap to one run in the home half of the eighth when senior Mitch Koester (SS, Effingham, Ill.) doubled to left and went to third on a wild pitch. Coles followed with an RBI ground ball, reaching first on an error by Paul Farrinacci at first. Purdue threatened to plate the tying run when back-to-back bunts moved Coles to third, but the centerfielder was stranded in the hot corner.
Purdue threatened again in the ninth when freshman Eric Osborn (2B, Fishers, Ind.) singled up the middle with two down and sophomore Neal Gorka (Westchester, Ill.) drew a pinch-hit walk. However, freshman Joe Hartman (Batesville, Ind.), pinch running at first, was forced out at second base on a ground ball to end the rally and the game.
Purdue and Ohio State return to the diamond on Saturday for a 1PM twinbill.