April 18, 2009
Game One Final Stats
Game Two Final Stats
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue baseball team dropped both ends of a Big Ten doubleheader with conference leader Ohio State at Lambert Field on Saturday. The Boilers lost 7-4 in the opener and 11-10 in the back end of the double dip.
The two losses handed the Buckeyes (29-8, 9-3 Big Ten) a three-game series sweep and dropped Purdue to 16-18 overall and 5-6 in the Big Ten.
The Boilermakers missed out on numerous scoring opportunities in both games, going just 7 for 33 (.212) with runners in scoring position while leaving a combined 25 runners on base on the day.
Purdue starters Matt Jansen (3-4) and Matt Morgan (3-3) were each charged with a loss on the mound, as neither made it through the fifth inning.
OSU reliever Drew Rucinski (6-2) picked up the victory in game one of the doubleheader with three solid innings out of the bullpen and starter Dean Wolosiansky improved to 8-1 for the year in five innings of work in game two.
Buckeye closer Jake Hale picked up his second and third saves of the series and his ninth and 10th of the season, as he wrapped up both victories on the mound.
Game One
Ohio State scored four runs on four consecutive hits and a throwing error by second baseman Eric Charles in the fifth inning to overcome a 2-1 Boilermaker lead and steal momentum in the game.
OSU's Cory Rupert, Cory Kovanda and Michael Stephens all singled in the inning and Zach Hurley delivered a double to hand the Buckeyes at 5-2 edge.
After giving up the initial two runs in the frame on Hurley's double and Stephens' single, the Boilers appeared to get out of the inning on a potential double play ball off the bat of Dan Burkhart, but Charles' throw to shortstop Nick Overmyer sailed wide of the bag and into left field to lead to two more unearned runs for OSU.
The Buckeyes answered Purdue's single run in the home half of the fifth with a lone run in the seventh to take a 6-3 lead into the eighth.
The Boilers cut the advantage to two on a run-scoring double by Eric Nielsen in the eighth and had the bases loaded with only one out, but closer Jake Hale struck out Dan Black for the second out and ended the threat on a grounder to short by pinch hitter Jonathan Lilly.
Hale retired the side in order in the ninth, including the last two outs on called third strikes, for his ninth save of the year.
OSU reliever Drew Rucsinski picked up the win, allowing just one run on three hits over three innings out of the bullpen. He struck out two and walked three.
Purdue starter Matt Jansen was charged with the loss after allowing five runs, three earned on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings.
Offensively, OSU rapped out 13 hits to Purdue's nine. Kovanda lead all player by going 3 for 5 with a double, an RBI and a run scored. Burkhart, Ryan Dew and Rupert all finished with two hits apiece for the Buckeyes.
Senior Brandon Haveman led the way for Purdue, going 3 for 4 with a run scored and his ninth double of the year.
Purdue's Dan Black (12) and OSU's Burkhart (7) each hit home runs for their respective clubs.
Game Two
Purdue got the go-ahead run to second base with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning, but OSU closer Jake Hale got Tyler Spillner to ground into a game-ending out to second base to hand the Buckeyes the doubleheader and series sweep.
Trailing 3-0 after the first inning, Ohio State exploded for five runs in third and four more in the fourth to take a commanding 9-3 lead.
The Boilermakers clawed their way back into the contest by scoring four in the sixth and answering OSU's two-run eighth with three runs in the bottom of the frame, but stranded runners on second and third in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings to come up one run short each time and thwart the come-from-behind win.
OSU's Michael Stephens and Dan Burkhart finished the contest with two hits and four RBIs apiece, while Michael Arp and Stephens each scored three times.
Brandon Haveman (3 for 6, RBI, R), John Cummins (3 for 4, RBI) and Barrett Serratto (3 for 5, 2 RBI) all finished with three hits for Purdue in the loss, and Drew Madia chipped in with his fourth home run of the season, a three-run shot in the fifth, and a double to go 2 for 4 with three RBIs and a pair of runs scored.
OSU's Dean Wolosiansky (8-1) picked up his eighth win of the year after allowing three unearned runs on seven hits in five innings of work. He struck out three and walked three.
Hale worked out of both second and third jams in the eighth and ninth to nail down his 10th save of the season. He struck out three and walked two for his third successful conversion of the weekend.
Purdue's Matt Morgan was charged with his third loss of the year after surrendering nine runs, six earned, on eight hits in 3 1/3 innings of work.
Purdue will return to action on Tuesday when it heads to Gary, Ind., for a neutral site game with Valparaiso. First pitch is scheduled for 8 p.m. EDT.