March 25, 2007
MACOMB, Ill. - The Purdue Nine won their third series of the season, winning the rubber game of a three-game series against Western Illinois 5-3 on Sunday.
In his second start of the season, senior Dan Sattler (1-0) went seven shutout innings on the hill, allowing just two hits and striking out four.
The Boilermakers (9-8) broke onto the scoreboard first in the top of the second on back-to-back singles by John Cummins and Alex Jaffee and an RBI grounder by Eric Osborn.
Purdue tacked on another run in the sixth inning on Cummins' RBI double down the left field line, plating Spencer Ingaldson from third. After an intentional walk to Jaffee loaded the bases, Osborn was hit by a pitch to force home Ryne White with the Boilermakers' second run of the inning for a 3-0 lead.
The Boilermakers got an insurance run in the eighth to pull ahead 4-0. Osborn's single to left scored Cummins from second base after Cummins reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a wild pitch.
WIU pushed across a run in the bottom of the eighth inning on a triple by third baseman Jake Corley and a throwing error on the play.
The Boilermakers put up a loud response to the run by the Leathernecks as Andy Preston clubbed a pinch-hit home run to centerfield leading off the ninth.
Western Illinois scratched back with two runs in the last of the ninth on a two-out flair single to right. However, with the bases loaded freshman Matt Jansen came in from the Purdue bullpen to record the final out of the game.
The save was the first of Jansen's collegiate career.
Purdue picked up multi-hit games from Ingaldson, White and Cummins, and Osborn drove in three runs. In his three starts at second base this weekend, Osborn drove in six runs.
White has now hit safely in 16 consecutive games, while Jordan Comadena extended his hitting streak to 13 games.
The Boilermakers play their final non-conference game before the open of the Big Ten season at Ball State on Wednesday. Purdue begins conference play next Friday at 4 p.m. vs. Illinosi