April 7, 2006
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Jay Buente returned to early-season form on the mound for the Boilermakers and the bats came alive in the late innings as Purdue belted Michigan State 10-1 at Lambert Field on Friday in the Big Ten home opener.
Buente picked up his fourth win of the season, going 7.0 innings and allowing one unearned run while striking out four. The senior right-hander is 4-1 after limiting MSU to four hits before giving way to the bullpen.
The Boilermakers were held to just three hits through the first five innings by Spartan starter Mark Sorensen (1-1) before erupting for five runs on five hits in the sixth.
With the score knotted at 1-1, Eric Wolfe turned on a 3-2 offering from Sorensen and sent the ball deep over the scoreboard in right-center for a two-run home run, his fourth of the season.
Wolfe was 2-4 at the plate, raising his team-leading batting average to .430, while scoring twice and driving in two runs. Wolfe also swiped a base, the second of the season for the senior.
Following Wolfe's blast in the sixth, Ryne White got the inning going again with a single to center, the first of three consecutive base hits to the center of the outfield. Neal Gorka and Jeff Mojzik followed White with singles of their own, Mojzik's driving in White from second. Jordan Comadena drove his second double of the game to right-center, scoring both baserunners in front of him.
Hilligoss singled to lead off the seventh inning, swiped second, and moved to third on a bunt by Spencer Ingaldson. MSU opted to give Wolfe an intentional free pass to first, setting up a perfectly manufactured double steal, Wolfe sliding safely in at second and Hilligoss stealing home on the throw down to second. John Hunter followed with his own fireworks, lining a Sorensen offering over the left field wall for a two run homer, the second of the season for the senior.
An insurance run in the eighth on an RBI groundball by Kyle Reesing capped the game at 10-1.
Trae Dauby and Eric Van Matre each pitched a scoreless inning of relief for the Boilermakers to secure the win, improving Purdue to 3-2 in Big Ten play and 15-8 overall.
The Boilermakers out-hit Michigan State on the day 13-6, including five hits for extra bases. Eight of Purdue's nine starting batters collected at least one hit, with five producing multi-hit outings.
Purdue returns to the diamond at Lambert Field on Saturday for a 1 p.m. doubleheader against the Spartans. Both contests will be broadcast on AM 1410 WLAS in the Lafayette area and on the web at purduesports.com.
Purdue Athletic Promotions will be giving away a Boilermaker game-worn jersey during the twinbill.