May 17, 2006
KALAMAZOO, Mich. - A six-run sixth inning for Western Michigan spelled doom for the Boilermakers as Purdue fell 13-6 to the Broncos at historic Hyames Field in the final non-conference contest of the 2006 regular season.
The Boilermakers trailed 4-2 before the WMU explosion put the Broncos up by eight. Four more runs in the seventh inning secured the win for Western Michigan.
The highlight of the game for Purdue came in the eighth inning in one of the unlikeliest fashions. Trae Dauby, a senior pitcher, pinch hit and singled to start a mini-rally, Kyle Lauderdale followed with a pinch-hit single, his first career base hit. Then, with two runners on base, pich-hitter Chris Toneguzzi launched an 0-1 pitch over the fence in right-center for a three-run home run, his first collegiate hit.
Purdue is now 28-23 heading into the final regular season weekend, a four-game Big Ten series against first-place Northwestern. The series begins at 4 p.m. on Friday, May 19, and all four games will be broadcast on WLAS AM 1410 in the Lafayette area and on the web at www.purduesports.com. Kyle Charters and Keith Thomas will call the action from Lambert Field.