April 29, 2007
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The old nemesis struck again as the Purdue Nine fell to Ohio State at Lambert Field on Sunday, 6-3. The Boilermakers have not defeated OSU in a series since 1987, and have now lost the last three season series.
The Boilermakers (18-20, 8-11 Big Ten) trail Illinois by half a game for sixth place in the conference standings with three weekends remaining on the Big Ten schedule. The top six teams in the final conference standings advance to the Big Ten Tournament.
Ohio State scored in the first inning on a Matt Angle triple to center and an Eric Fryer single, then held on at the end as the Boilermakers stormed back and challenged in the eighth innings. A two-run ninth by the Buckeyes secured the win.
Trialing 4-0 in the eighth, Eric Osborn launched his second home run of the season and the series to left, putting the Boilermakers on the scoreboard. Jon Moore beat out an infield single and Kyle Reesing pulled Purdue to within one with a no-doubter over the left field wall, his homer of the season.
The Buckeyes responded with two runs in the final frame to close the scoring and win the series, three games to one.
Matt Jansen (0-2) was hit with the loss in his first collegiate start for Purdue, pitching 6.0 innings and allowing two runs on seven hits with three strikeouts.
Osborn had two of Purdue's seven hits on the afternoon. Ryne White extended his team-best hitting streak to eight, and hos now hit safely in 34 of the 37 he has played in this season. White has reached base safely in his last 36 games.
The Boilermakers do not have a midweek game this week as Purdue takes its final exams. The Old Gold and Black returns to action on Saturday, May 5, at 4 p.m., against the Nittany Lions at Penn State's new Medlar Field.