March 1, 2008
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The 2008 edition of the Purdue Nine fell for the fifth consecutive time on Saturday, dropping a 12-5 contest to Western Kentucky at Nick Denes Field.
The loss marked the first time since 1988 that a Purdue baseball team lost at least five games to open a campaign. The 1988 Boilermakers opened that season 0-6. Two years earlier, the 1986 Purdue squad lost its first five games - a team that would finish with a program record 37 wins.
On Saturday, WKU opened the scoring early and then added to its run total often, scoring in six of the eight innings the team batted.
Behind 4-0 in the third inning, the Boilermakers broke onto the scoreboard and cut the deficit in half when Drew Madia doubled down the left field line, scoring Brandon Haveman and Ryne White.
WKU wasted no time in responding to the Purdue runs, scoring three in the bottom of the third.
Purdue scored two more in the sixth inning with RBI by Jon Moore and Haveman, making the score 8-4. Moore's run-producing grounder drove home Ryan Bridges, and Haveman's double plated Kyle Reesing.
However, the Hilltoppers again answered the Boilermakers two-run inning with a three-run frame in the home half of the same inning. Another Topper run in the eighth made the score 12-4.
Dan Black drove in White in the top of the ninth to give Purdue its fifth run, but the Boilermakers were unable to get any closer.
Matt Jansen (0-1) was hit with the loss after surrendering seven runs (five earned) in 2.1 innings on the mound. For the game Purdue committed three errors and one passed ball, allowing six unearned runs.
The Boilermakers have struggled at the plate and in the field through five games this season. Purdue has struck out 48 times and has committed 10 errors leading to 11 unearned runs.
In the 121-year history of the Purdue baseball program there have been five teams that have opened a season with five straight losses. An 0-6 start is the record for opening futility, first in 1936 and then again in 1969 and 1988.
Purdue will look to break into the win column on Sunday at Nick Denes Field in the weekend finale against Western Kentucky. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast online via Yahoo Sports beginning 10 minutes before first pitch.