March 15, 2009
EVANSVILLE, Ind. - The Purdue baseball team got another outstanding start from its pitching staff, but saw its modest three-game win streak come to an end with a 1-0 loss to IPFW at the Dunn Hospitality Classic at Braun Stadium on Sunday. The Mastodons' first ever win over Purdue in 15 all-time tries dropped the Boilermakers to 5-8 for the year, while IPFW improved to 4-7.
The Mastodons plated the lone run in the contest with two outs in the top of the ninth on a soft single to center by Mark Carden. The run-scoring base hit plated Chris Gottschal, who had reached on a two-out single up the middle, advanced to second when Boilermaker starter Matt Morgan hit Shaune VanDreissche and then moved to third on a passed ball by catcher Eric Nielsen.
Purdue, which finished with just four hits on the afternoon, saw its only scoring chance come to an end with two outs in the bottom of the eighth when Jonathan Moore strayed too far off third on a delayed steal by Nielsen from first, and was caught in a rundown well in front of home for the final out.
The loss wasted an outstanding start by Morgan. The right-hander allowed just one run on six hits over 8 2/3 innings. He finished with six strikeouts and just one walk, but dropped to 0-2 on the year with the hardluck loss.
IPFW saw four pitchers, Tyler Baatz, Brandon Knowling, A.J. Risedorph and Andrew Emge, team up hold the Boilermakers scoreless for the first time this season. Risedorph (1-2) picked up his first win of the season in tossing two shutout innings, and Emge picked up the save by getting the final out in the ninth.
Purdue will take Monday off before heading to the Windy City for a midweek two-game series at Illinois-Chicago. First pitch for the opener against the Flames on Tuesday is set for 4 p.m. EDT.