May 12, 2004
CINCINNATI, Ohio - The Boilermaker nine stranded 15 runners on base, including eight in scoring position, in a 3-1 loss to the Xavier Musketeers on Wednesday afternoon in Cincinnati. The loss drops the Boilermakers to 24-23 on the season.
Purdue loaded the bases on four occassions and failed to score a run in any of those innings enroute to its fifth mid-week loss of the season against three wins.
The bright spot at the plate for the Boilermakers was a 3-for-4 outting by freshman Rob Brockel (Pewaukee, Wis.), including his first collegiate home run. The solo shot by Brockel came in the leadoff spot in the seventh inning, the only inning the Boilermakers did not leave a runner on the base paths.
Xavier scored early against Purdue starter Andrew Groves (Fr., North Liberty, Ind.), plating two in the first and one in the second. The Musketeers ripped five hits in their first nine batters, including three doubles, to build a 3-0 lead.
Five Xavier pitchers would face the Purdue lineup, allowing eight hits, walking six and hitting three Boilermakers. However, the Musketeer hurlers were constantly able to make the key pitch to stop several Boilermaker uprisings.
Sophomore hurler Jay Buente (Evansville, Ind.) scattered six hits in five innings of relief to give the Boilermakers in the game, but bases-loaded situations in the third, fifth, sixth and eighth innings would go for naught.
Joining Brockel in a multi-hit effort was classmate Joe Hartman (Batesville, Ind.), who was 2-for-3 at the plate. Sophomore Eric Wolfe (Toronto, Ontario) was hit by a pitch three times during the game, upping his season total to 12. Purdue batters have been hit by a pitch 79 times in 47 games.
The Boilermakers travel to Iowa City this weekend for a four-game series against the Iowa Hawkeyes at Duane Banks Field. First pitch of the series opener is scheduled for 6 p.m. on Friday, May 14.