April 23, 2008
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Tony Sedlmeyer showed no signs of his recent shaky starts on the hill on Wednesday afternoon as the Purdue Nine defeated Ball State 3-1 in a non-conference game at Lambert Field.
Sedlmeyer (1-4) threw only 59 pitches in 7.0 innings of work, limiting the Cardinals to six hits and one run. The sophomore right-hander struck out one batter without issuing a walk.
The seven-inning outing was the longest of the season for Sedlmeyer, besting his previous long of three innings done twice before.
Ball State scored in the top of the first against Sedlmeyer, who retired the leadoff batter in all seven innings in which he pitched. A one-out triple by Wayne Bond and a RBI infield single by Justin Rogers game Ball State the initial lead.
The game remained 1-0 in favor of the Cardinals until the fourth inning when Dan Black unloaded on a Brad Piatt pitch, sending it over the right field wall and onto the top of the cooling plant located some 50-75 feet beyond the outfield wall. The bomb was Black's 11th of the season and ninth in the last 15 games.
Purdue loaded the bases in the fifth inning on two walks and a catcher's interference, and Ryne White delivered the game-winning hit with a single to center that scored Jon Moore from third and Jonathan Lilly from second.
Sedlmeyer turned the ball over to Andy Loomis and Josh Lindblom for the eighth and ninth innings. Loomis retired the Cardinals in order in the eighth, and Lindblom threw a scoreless ninth for his Big Ten-leading ninth save of the season.
Purdue (21-17) returns to Lambert Field on Friday for the first game of a four-game conference series against the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Friday is Majestic Day at Lambert Field, where fans can win one of several official Purdue baseball items by Majestic Athletic, including an official Purdue baseball jersey and pullover jacket.
On Saturday fans will have the chance to win one of several game-worn jerseys from recent seasons. Jerseys worn by Boilermakers over the past 10-15 years will be given away throughout the afternoon's doubleheader.
The Boilermakers will don special camouflage jerseys for Armed Forces Day on Sunday. All military personnel with valid military ID will be admitted free, and the camouflage jerseys will be auctioned off during the game. For more information regarding Armed Forces Day, click HERE.