April 25, 2009
MINNEAPOLIS - Minnesota's Tom Buske outdueled Purdue's Matt Jansen, as the Boilermakers (17-20, 5-8 Big Ten) dropped their fifth consecutive Big Ten game with a 3-1 loss in the Metrodome on Saturday.
Buske (6-3) allowed just one run on eight hits with seven strikeouts and no walks over 8 2/3 innings to one-up Jansen and earn his sixth win of the season.
The Boilermaker lefty surrendered three runs, only two of which were earned, on five hits over 6 2/3 innings. Jansen (3-5) struck out six and walked three in the hard luck loss.
The Golden Gophers broke a scoreless tie in the sixth when they plated a pair of runs on a sacrifice fly by Derek McCallum and a run-scoring ground out by Michael Kvasnicka.
Purdue cut the advantage in half in the seventh on a leadoff double by Drew Madia and a two-out RBI single by Jonathan Lilly, but a throwing error by shortstop Barrett Serrato to lead off the bottom of the frame led to another Minnesota run when Jeff Straub forced in a run with a bases loaded walk to push the edge back to two.
From there on it was Buske and Gopher closer Scott Matyas. Buske retired six consecutive Boilers from the seventh to ninth before getting lifted after a two-out single by David Blount brought John Cummins to the plate as the tying run.
Matyas entered and got the Boiler senior to pop up to first base to end the contest and earn his seventh save of the season.
The 3-1 loss was Purdue's ninth of the season to come by two runs or less. The Boilermakers are 3-6 in one-run games and 4-3 in contests decided by two runs.
Purdue will look to salvage a win against Minnesota (26-12, 9-4 Big Ten) in the three-game series finale on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 2 p.m. EDT with right-hander Matt Morgan the scheduled starter for the Boilermakers.