May 13, 2007
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue Boilermakers fell one run short of a monumental comeback against the Iowa Hawkeyes, dropping a 10-9 contest in the finale of the last Big Ten weekend series at Lambert Field.
The loss dropped Purdue to 21-17 overall and 11-16 in the Big Ten Conference, eliminating the Boilermakers from a possible berth in the conference postseason tournament.
The Boilermakers fell behind 10-0 in the opening four innings, then charged back with six runs in the ninth inning to close to within one run. However, the Hawkeyes escaped as Purdue left the bases loaded in the final inning, the tying run just 90 feet from the plate.
Iowa scored three runs in the first inning and six in the second to jump out to a 9-0 advantage. A single run in the fourth inning upped the Hawkeye lead to 10-0.
The Boilermakers broke through against Hawkeye pitching in the sixth on Dan Black's RBI single up the middle, scoring Kyle Reesing from second. A two-run seventh inning thanks to a balk and an RBI grounder by Jon Moore brought the score to 10-3, setting up the improbable ninth.
Andy Preston singled to leadoff the ninth inning and was followed by a single by John Cummins. A bunt by Moore moved Preston and Cummins into scoring position, and a walk to Spencer Ingaldson loaded the bases. Reesing followed by drawing a free pass, scoring Preston from third. Ryne White drove a single off the wall in right field, but the baserunners had to wait to see if the ball would be caught so each only moved up one base. With the score now 10-5, Kyle Lauderdale singled into left-center to drive home Ingaldson and Reesing. Black drew a walk to load the bases, and Andy Preston doubled down the right field line to bring the Boilermakers to within one. A walk to Cummins loaded the bases, but a strikeout ended the Boilermaker comeback attempt.
With wins by Michigan State over Northwestern and Illinois over Indiana, the Boilermakers were mathematically eliminated from Big Ten Tournament contention. The last time Purdue failed to reach the conference postseason event was 2003.
Purdue plays its final home game of the season on Tuesday at 4 p.m against Western Kentucky. The Boilermakers swept a three-game series against the Hilltoppers earlier this season.