April 26, 2008
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - There have been many sports teams in history that have played under the nickname "The Cardiac Kids," but on the campus of Purdue University in 2008 there is one squad that seems to cherish the ability to test the hearts of the team and its fans - and that team came through twice on Saturday.
The Purdue baseball team swept a Big Ten Conference doubleheader on Saturday afternoon against the Minnesota Golden Gophers, winning both games in come-from-behind fashion - and both in the team's final at-bat of the game.
The Boilermakers scored four runs in the bottom of the seventh of the first game to overcome a 6-3 deficit, claiming a 7-6 victory. Purdue then fought through a 5-0 deficit after four innings and a 5-1 deficit in the sixth inning by plating six runs in the sixth to post a 7-5 win.
The twinbill sweep secures the series win for the Boilermakers, giving Purdue five consecutive Big Ten weekend series wins this season - a program record.
The 2001 Purdue squad is the only other Boilermaker team to win five conference series in a single season since the Big Ten adopted the four-game series in 1981. That 2001 squad, which won a previous record four straight series, finished second in the Big Ten with a 19-7 record.
In Game One, Ryne White singled home Brandon Haveman in the first inning and Jon Moore drove in two runs in the third, but Purdue trailed the Golden Gophers after the first three innings 5-3. Minnesota added a single run in the sixth inning to force the last inning comeback effort.
Haveman led off the seventh with a single to first base and moved to third on a double to left by Ben Wolgamot. Minnesota starter Kyle Carr walked White to load the bases and gave way on the mound to reliever Cullen Sexton. A wild pitch allow all runners to advance 90 feet, with Haveman scoring from third to make the score 6-4. Jordan Comadena walked to reload the bases and the Boilermakers tied the score at 6-6 when Dan Black split the left and center fielder with a two-run double. With an 0-2 count, Eric Nielsen lined the game-winning single into left field, driving home Comadena and giving Purdue the one-run victory.
Kevin Cahill picked up the win in a relief effort, pitching 4.1 innings and allowing one run. Cahill (3-0) struck out five batters, matching a career high, in the longest outing of his career.
Game Two of the doubleheader began as what seemed to be a pitchers' duel as each team traded zeros for the first three innings. However, Minnesota broke through against Purdue starter Allan Donato for five runs in the fourth inning to build a 5-0 lead.
Purdue scored a single run in the fifth inning on a RBI double to left by Nick Overmyer, driving in Jonathan Lilly all the way from first base.
With Gopher starter Seth Rosin working with a four-run lead, Wolgamot singled to open the sixth inning and White followed with a base hit. With one out Dan Black was hit by a pitch to load the bases and John Cummins lined a single into right to drive in Wolgamot with the inning's first run. Moore bunted for a base hit, picking up the RBI as White crossed the plate to make the score 5-3.
A change in Minnesota pitcher to Luke Rasmussen didn't slow the Purdue attack in the sixth as pinch hitter David Blount walked with the bases loaded to force home another run. Nick Overmyer singled through the left side of the infield to drive home Cummins with the tying run, and the Boilermakers grabbed their first lead of the game on a two-run base hit by Alex Jaffee.
Chris Ivanic pitched the seventh inning for Purdue to record his second save of the season and secure the doubleheader sweep.
Drew Wurdack was the winning pitcher for the Boilermakers, pitching 2.2 innings out of the bull pen. Wurdack (2-0) did not allow a hit in his outing, striking out two and walking one.
Purdue is now 15-4 in Big Ten action, two games behind first-place Michigan (17-2). Since the team returned home from Spring Break, the Boilermakers have posted a record of 22-6 with a 14-2 mark in the friendly confines of Lambert Field.
Purdue and Minnesota conclude the four-game Big Ten series on Sunday at noon - a game that will honor America's Armed Forces. Purdue will wear special camouflage jerseys that will be auctioned off during the game. All proceeds of the auction will go to benefit the Coalition to Salute America's Heroes, a non-profit organization that aids the families of injured and disabled veterans who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
For more information on Purdue's Armed Forces Day, please click HERE.