May 17, 2008
Game One Box Score
Game Two Box Score
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - The Purdue Nine saw their Friday offensive explosion silenced on Saturday in a 2-0 loss to the Fighting Illini at Illinois Field, but that silence was not long-lasting as the Boilermakers bombed Illinois in Saturday's nightcap 11-2.
The doubleheader split gave Purdue a 30-24 record overall and a 21-10 Big Ten record as the 2008 regular season came to a close. The 21 conference wins are a Boilermaker program record, surpassing the former record of 19 in the 2001 season (19-7).
The twinbill split also gives Purdue a win in the final Big Ten series of the season as the Boilers won three of four against Illinois. Purdue won six of the eight conference weekend series this season, the most series wins for Purdue in a season in program history.
In the twinbill opener, Purdue southpaw Matt Jansen and Illinois lefty Phil Haig locked horns in a pitchers' duel. Unfortunately for the Boilermakers Haig was up to the challenge of getting Illinois its first win of the weekend as Purdue bats mustered only two infield hits in a 2-0 loss.
Jansen limited Illinois' high-scoring offense to just two runs on five hits through six innings, but the two runs were enough for the Illini. The complete-game loss dropped Jansen's record to 3-3.
The 2-0 loss was a shock to the Boilermakers' system after Purdue scored 27 runs and cranked out 34 hits (includeing 11 doubles) in two games on Friday. That system shock lasted only 91 minutes -- the duration of the first game -- as Purdue's offense unleashed a third offensive charge on the Illini in the four-game series.
The nightcap saw Purdue score 11 runs on 20 hits, while collecting a season-high nine doubles and a season-best 12 extra-base hits. The Boilermakers received at least one hit from every batter who stepped to the plate in the 11-2 victory.
Purdue's 20-hit performance was the second game of 20 hits or more in the weekend against the Illini, and the fourth 20-hit contest of the 2008 season.
Trailing 1-0 heading to the third inning, the Boilers scored four times in the inning on three hits. John Cummins opened the inning with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Nick Overmyer. Purdue loaded the bases on consecutive walks to Ben Wolgamot and Ryne White for slugger Dan Black. Black drove home the first two runs of the game for the Boilermakers, pulling a double down the right field line. Jordan Comadena followed with a two-run two-bagger of his own down the line in right to give Purdue a 4-1 lead.
Purdue added a single run in the fourth on a solo home run to left-center off the bat of Cummins, his second home run of the season and third of his career.
The power surge continue in the fifth inning when White led off the frame with a blast to right, giving the junior 12 on the season and tying him for the team lead with Black. That tie atop the Purdue home run chart lasted all of six pitches as Black lofted a 3-2 offering over the wall in left for his 13th homer of the year. With two down, Jon Moore singled through the left side of the infield, swiped second base and scored on a double to right-center by Cummins.
Purdue and Illinois traded single runs in the sixth inning to give the Boilermakers a 9-2 lead. The Boilers' run scored on a Comadena double to left that drove home White from third after White doubled to start the inning and moved to third on a wild pitch.
The Boilers tacked on two insurance runs in the ninth inning to extend their lead to nine runs. Kyle Reesing led off the inning with a double down the left field line and scored on an Overmyer two-bagger into the left field corner. Overmyer advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored on an RBI ground ball by Wolgamot to complete the offensive onslaught.
Andy Loomis (4-0) picked up the win with 3.1 innings on the hill in relief of starter Kevin Cahill. Cahill yielded an unearned run on five hits in 2.2 innings before handing the ball off to Loomis, who surrendered only one hit and one run in 3.1 innings. Chris Ivanic and Josh Lindblom combined to shutout the Illini over the finel three innings to close the door on the series and the regular season.
With nine doubles in the second game, the Boilermakers have now hit 120 two-baggers during the 2008 season -- a new program record. The former record of 116 doubles by a Purdue squad came just one season ago in 2007.
Purdue now moves into the Big Ten Tournament in Ann Arbor, Mich., in which they will play on Thursday afternoon at 3:35 p.m. at Ray Fisher Stadium, part of the newly renovated Wilpon Baseball and Softball Complex. Purdue's opponent will be decided based on results of tournament games on Wednesday between Penn State/Indiana and Illinois/Ohio State.