April 6, 2005
CINCINNATI, Ohio - The bottom half of the lineup came to life and the bullpen shut down the Bearcats as Purdue blasted Cincinnati on Wednesday at UC Baseball Stadium in front of 419 fans, 12-3. Tne win was the first for the Boilermakers in the State of Ohio since March 22, 2003.
Purdue's bottom four in the order collected seven hits, scored six runs and drove in nine to dominate the offensive production. Sophomore Spencer Ingaldson was 2-for-5 with his first collegiate home run, a three-run blast to right that gave Purdue a 4-3 lead. Sophomore Jeff Mojzik had a three-run triple in a 2-for-5 performance, and freshman Dan Wolfe collected two RBI while going 2-for-5 at the plate.
On the hill, the story for Purdue was long relief as freshman Allan Donato came out of the pen in the second inning and picked up his first collegiate win, throwing three scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out two. The Boilermaker bullpen threw eight innings with allowing a run and limiting the Bearcats to five hits.
Cincinnati (10-15) jumped on the scoreboard first, scoring three runs vs. Purdue starter Martin Havens in the home half of the first inning. Three hits, two walks and two wild pitches spotted the Bearcats the early 3-0 lead.
Purdue struggled at the plate early, being retired in order in the first three innings. However, the story changed in the fourth frame as the Boilermakers sent nine batters to the plate.
Senior Andy Dahl walked to lead off the innings and, with two down, junior Eric Wolfe singled through the right side of the infield, sending Dahl to third. On a delayed steal, Wolfe broke for second and coaxed a throw from UC catcher Jim Olds. On the throw down to second, Dahl broke for the plate and both runners were safe, giving Purdue its first run. Junior John Hunter was hit by a pitch to put runners on first and second, bringing a new pitcher out of the Bearcat bullpen. On the first pitch from A.J. Upton, Ingaldson deposited the ball over the right field fence for his first round tripper of his career and a 4-3 Purdue lead. Purdue added one more run in the inning on an RBI single by Mojzik that plated junior Tyler Heck from second. Heck had reached by walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch.
The game was blown wide open in the fifth as Purdue scored six times, moving the score to 11-3.
Sophomore Mitch Hilligoss singled with one out and moved to second on a single by junior Neal Gorka. A ground ball moved both runners up 90 feet and the bases were filled on a walk to Hunter. Ingaldson drilled a ball of the chest of UC shortstop Mark Haske, allowing Hilligoss and Gorka to come home safely and up Purdue's advantage to 7-3. A single by Heck loaded the bases for Mojzik, who lined a ball off the left field wall. The ball caromed off the wall away from left fielder Adam Calez, allowing the bases to empty and Mojzik to slide in safely with a triple. A single up the middle by Dane Wolfe plated Mojzik with the sixth run of the inning.
Purdue would add an insurance run in the seventh on a double to left center by Dane Wolfe that plated Ingaldson, who had led off the inning with a two-bagger down the left field line.
Junior Jay Buente, freshman Sean Anthony and junior Chris Toneguzzi followed out of the pen to pitch the final five innings to close the win.
Cincinnati used eight pitchers over the course of the nine inning game, with Upton (0-1) being hit for the loss. The Bearcat hurlers allowed 12 Purdue hits, walked six and hit one batter.
Purdue returns to Ohio on Friday for the start of a four-game Big Ten series with Ohio State at Bill Davis Stadium in Columbus. The first game begins at 6:35 p.m. EDT. The Boilermaker and Buckeyes will play a Saturday twinbill beginning at 1:05 p.m. and the series will conclude with a 1:05 p.m. contest on Sunday. All four games will be broadcast on WLAS 1410 AM and via the internet at www.purduesports.com.