April 12, 2009
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. - Matt Morgan tossed a complete game six-hitter and head coach Doug Schreiber won his 300th career game at Purdue as the Boilermakers defeated Penn State, 9-3, at Medlar Field on Sunday. The victory handed the Boilers their second consecutive Big Ten series win and improved them to 15-15 overall and 5-3 in league games.
Morgan (3-2) followed fellow right-hander Matt Bischoff's CG performance against the Nittany Lions on Friday with a gritty outing the series finale. The redshirt sophomore allowed just three runs - two earned - on six hits over all nine innings. He struck out five and walked five to earn his third victory of the season.
Offensively, the Boilers gave their starter some late fireworks to help extend a one-run lead after six.
Leading just 2-1 in the seventh, Eric Charles plated teammates Alex Jaffee and Brandon Haveman with a two-run single up the middle to push the advantage to 4-1.
Penn State answered back with a lone run in the bottom of the frame on back-to-back doubles Jordan Steranka and Ryan Boonie, but Morgan was able to end the threat with a runner at first and the tying run at the plate.
The Boilermakers then took advantage of five Penn State walks and a pair of fielding miscues in the top of the eighth for five runs on just two hits to pull away 9-2. Jaffee drove in one on a single in the inning and Eric Nielsen added two more with a base hit up the middle.
The Lions looked to answer back in the home half of the frame, but Morgan settled in, allowing only one run to score to keep the Boilers in a comfortable 9-3 edge.
Morgan went on to work a 1-2-3 bottom of the ninth to wrap up his first career CG at Purdue.
PSU starter Mike Lorentson (1-4) was charged with the loss after allowing four runs - three earned - on seven hits over seven innings. He struck out five and walked two.
The Boilermakers struck first in the second inning, plating a single run when John Cummins raced home from second on a fielding error by PSU first baseman Cory Wine on a sharply hit ball be Ben Wolgamot, and added another in the third on an RBI single by Dan Black to push the early advantage to 2-0 Boilers.
Offensively, redshirt freshman Eric Charles, who scored on Black's single in the third, extended his hitting streak to 12 straight games with a single in the first. He finished the game 2 for 4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Jaffee added three hits, an RBI and a pair of runs scored and Nielsen paired hits to go along with his two RBIs.
Purdue will return to action on Tuesday when it hosts Chicago State for a single game at Lambert Field. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.