May 14, 2008
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The 2008 season was one for the record books when it came to Purdue's record when playing at home, but Wednesday's home finale against Illinois-Chicago might have been one to forget as the Boilermakers fell 9-2 to the Flames at Lambert Field.
Purdue (27-23) completed the 2008 home schedule with a record of 18-5 at Lambert Field, the most wins and highest winning percentage (.783) at home for Purdue during the 10-year era of head coach Doug Schreiber.
Despite the stellar home record, the Wednesday outcome competed the home schedule on a sour note. Purdue's 9-2 loss to UIC was the most lopsided non-conference loss at Lambert Field since the Boilermakers fell 14-6 to Illinois State on April 14, 2004.
The contest looked positive at the start with Purdue left-hander Connor Sestak putting zeros on the UIC scoreboard in the first two innings and the Boilermakers pushing the game's first run across the plate in the bottom of the second inning.
In the Purdue second, Jonathan Lilly singled to right field with one out and moved to second base when Kyle Reesing was hit by a pitch. A fielder's choice moved Lilly to third base and put Jon Moore on first. Moore swiped second base and the throw from UIC catcher sailed into center, allowing Lilly to score from third for a 1-0 Purdue lead.
The lead didn't last long as UIC scored four times in the third inning on one swing of the bat as Brett Schaefer launched a grand slam over the wall in deep left-center.
The grand slam by Schaefer was the sixth four-run home run allowed by Purdue pitching this season, and the third allowed in the last six games.
UIC added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings and three runs in the sixth to build a 9-1 lead before Purdue could answer with a run.
A single by John Cummins opened the Purdue seventh inning before Brandon Haveman grounded into a fielder's choice. With two down Haveman moved to second on defensive indifference and Ryne White followed with an RBI single into right to drive home Purdue's second run.
The Boilermakers managed just seven hits on the afternoon, three by Lilly on a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate. Purdue failed to connect for an extra-base hit in the game and has now gone homerless in five straight games, the longest streak without a roundtripper since not hitting a long ball in the season's first eight games.
Purdue travels to Champaign, Ill., for a four-game Big Ten series against the Illinois Fighting Illinois. The series begins with a 7 p.m. ET game on Thursday. Purdue needs one win against Illinois to clinch second place in the conference standings and the No.2 seed at the Big Ten Tournament.