April 9, 2005
COLUMBUS, Ohio - An early start and a big finish by the Boilermaker bats accompanied an outstanding pitching performance by senior Scott Byrnes as Purdue frustrated the Ohio State Buckeyes at Bill Davis Stadium, 7-1, in front of a crowd of over 3,000.
The win moves Purdue to 3-2 in the Big Ten Conference, keeping pace with league leaders Illinois and Minnesota, both 5-0 through Friday's action. Ohio State is 0-5 in conference play for the first time since 1936, when the Buckeyes were 0-10 in the Big Ten before winning their season finale.
Byrnes pitched 7.0 innings and allowed five hits and one run while striking out three. The Cincinnati native allowed more than one baserunner in an inning just once, the one-run second inning. Byrnes is now 2-3 on the season, 1-0 in conference decisions.
Purdue (9-15) scored two runs in the second inning off OSU starter Trent Luyster to break the scoreless tie.
Senior Eric Wolfe opened the inning by reaching first on a hit-by-pitch and moving to second on a base hit by sophomore Spencer Ingaldson. An RBI single up the middle by sophomore Eric Osborn put the Boilermakers on the scoreboard, scoring Wolfe from second, and Ingaldson was plated on a safety squeeze by junior Tyler Heck.
Trailing 2-0, Ohio State (13-10) responded with a run in the bottom of the second on back-to-back doubles by Jedidiah Stephen and Paul Farinacci. However, with runners on the corners and one out, Byrnes was able to strike out Chris Macke and coax a groundout from Mike Rabin to end the inning.
Purdue struck again in the fifth with a single run, scoring with two down on a double down the left field line by freshman John Phegley. Osborn led off the frame with a single to center and moved to second on a passed ball before Phegley's two-base hit made the score 3-1.
Byrnes cruised through the OSU lineup from the third inning through the seventh, allowing just two baserunners during that five-inning span before yielding to junior Trae Dauby out of the Purdue bullpen.
In the ninth, the Boilermakers secured the victory with a four run outburst against Luyster and reliever Trey Fasnaugh. A single by Ingaldson started the inning and Osborn moved the Purdue catcher to second with a single, his third hit of the game. A ground ball to first by Heck was fielded by first baseman Farinacci, whose throw to second sailed high, allowing Ingaldson to score from second. Senior Mike Coles drew a walk to load the bases and a wild pitch scored Osborn. With runners on second and third, sophomore Mitch Hilligoss ripped a shot to third that was booted by Macke, allowing Heck and pinch runner Matt Bush to come home, making the score 7-1.
Dauby closed the ninth with a 1-2-3 inning, picking up his first save of the 2005 season.
For the game, Osborn was 3-for-4 with two runs and one RBI while Ingaldson collected two hits and scored twice.
Purdue and Ohio State return to Bill Davis Stadium for a 1:05 p.m. doubleheader (12:05 in West Lafayette). The games will be broadcast on AM 1410 WLAS in the Lafayette area and on www.purduesports.com, with Keith Thomas and Mark Leddy bringing the call.