May 3, 2008
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Purdue Nine won for the seventh consecutive game, defeating the Indiana Hoosiers at Sembower Field in the first game of a four-game Big Ten series, 11-7, in a game that was played with 20-35 mph winds blowing out to right-center field.
The seven-game win streak is the longest for the Boilermakers this season, and the longest since winning seven straight from April 27 to May 8 in the 2005 season.
"This was a good win for us in less-than-ideal weather conditions," head coach Doug Schreiber said. "I think our guys did a great job staying within themselves and not trying to do too much at the plate. Sometimes wind like today makes a player try to do more than he normally would, but we didn't fall into that trap today."
Purdue, now 26-27 overall and 17-4 in Big Ten play, kept pace with conference-leader Michigan. The Wolverines (19-4), who began their weekend series with a win on Friday, split a doubleheader with Ohio State on Saturday and are now even with Purdue in the loss column in conference action.
Matt Bischoff won for the fourth time in six weeks of conference play, allowing two runs in 6.0 innings on the hill. Bischoff (4-2) struck out five batters against six hits and one walk.
A couple miscues in the field by the Boilermakers aided in a rare rocky outing by the Purdue bullpen as Chris Ivanic, Andy Loomis and Josh Lindblom pitched the final 3.0 innings, yielding five runs (two earned). Lindblom was credited with the save, his 11th of the season and eighth in Big Ten play.
At the plate, the Boilermakers picked up seven RBI hits out of the team's nine total base hits, making the most of their trips to the plate.
An RBI single in the first by Ben Wolgamot and a solo home run in the second by Dan Black staked Purdue to an early 2-0 lead. The long ball was Black's 12th of the season and his seventh in 21 Big Ten games. The seven conference home runs ties a Purdue record previously accomplished by John Hunter (2004), Daniel Underwood (2003) and Mike Rothstein (1998).
Purdue stretched its lead to five runs with three in the sixth on a two-run double to left by Ryne White and a sacrifice fly to right by Jordan Comadena. Purdue loaded the bases on a double by Nick Overmyer, a walk to Brandon Haveman and a hit-by-pitch to Wolgamot before White's two-bagger plated the first two runs of the inning. Comadena's fly ball scored Wolgamot for a 5-0 lead.
Josh Phegley lined a two-run home run to center in the bottom of the sixth to draw IU to within three at 5-2. The homer tipped off the top of the glove of Purdue centerfielder Jon Moore, who attempted to time his jump at the fence and rob the Hoosier catcher of his eighth home run of the season.
From the sixth inning on, Purdue and Indiana exchanged shots at the plate as each team scored in each half inning for the rest of the game - with the lone exception of the bottom of the ninth.
Haveman singled in the seventh inning with Jonathan Lilly on second base to increase the Purdue advantage to 6-2. Lilly opened the inning with a walk and moved into scoring position on Overmyer's ninth sacrifice bunt of the season. Indiana responded in the home portion of the seventh with three unearned runs to pull to within one at 6-5.
In the eighth inning the Purdue lead was again extended to three runs as Moore lined a triple into the right-center field gap. Moore's first three-bagger of the season split the IU right and centerfielder and rolled to the wall, driving home Black from second and Eric Nielsen from first. The Hoosiers would once again answer with their own two-spot in the eighth, sending the game to the final inning with Purdue leading 8-7.
The ninth inning was all Purdue as Wolgamot lead off the frame with a home run to center, the first long ball of the junior's season. A walk to White, an intentional pass to Black and a walk to Nielsen loaded the bases for the Boilermakers. With two outs and the bases full, pinch hitter Drew Madia singled up the middle to drive home White and Black with the game's final runs.
Lindblom retired the Hoosiers in the ninth for the save and Purdue's 24th win in it's last 30 games.
"This definitely wasn't our best game," Schreiber said, "but we picked up the key hits, pitches and defensive plays when we needed them. We played well enough to win, and in the end that is what is important."
Purdue and Indiana return to Sembower Field on Sunday for a 1 p.m. twinbill. The series will conclude with a 1 p.m. single game on Monday.