April 7, 2009
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Ball State (15-12) took advantage of six early walks to jump out to a commanding 8-0 lead through the first two and half innings and cruised to a 17-8 win over Purdue at Lambert Field on Tuesday. The loss snapped the Boilers' two-game win streak and dropped them to an even 13-13 for the year.
Purdue starter Kyle Cook walked the first three batters he faced in the contest to load the bases and surrendered a three-run double to Zach Dygert to stake the Cardinals to an early 3-0 advantage and force the left-hander from the game.
BSU would tack on three more runs in the second and two more in the third for an eight-run edge before the Boilers got their offense going.
Purdue cut the lead to three at 8-5 with five runs in the home half of third, but Ball State added to its tally with three runs in the fourth and two runs apiece in the fifth, sixth and eighth innings to snap a modest two-game losing streak to the Boilers.
The top two hitters in the BSU batting order, Jeremy Hazelbaker and Nate Fields, teamed up to go 7 for 9 with three doubles, six RBIs and eight runs scored. Dygert led all players with four runs driven in and finished the game 3 for 4 with two doubles and a run scored.
For the Boilers, redshirt freshman Eric Charles extended his hitting streak to eight straight games to lead a 17-hit attack. Charles ended the contest 3 for 4 with an RBI and a run scored. Nick Overmyer chipped in with a 3 for 5 day at the plate, including his seventh double of the year.
Senior Brandon Haveman pushed his consecutive games with a hit streak to nine straight with a single in the fourth. He went 1 for 2 with a run scored in the loss, while Dan Black (2 for 5, 2B, RBI, R), Tyler Spillner (2 for 5, RBI, R) and Alex Jaffee (2 for 3, RBI, R) all paired hits for Purdue.
BSU's Eric Van Matre (1-1), a Purdue transfer, picked up his first win of the season out of the bullpen. He allowed just one run on four hits in two innings of relief. He struck out four and walked none.
Purdue's Cook (0-1) was charged with the loss after allowing three runs on one hit and three walks without recording an out in the first.
The Boilermakers will be back in action on Wednesday when they host Illinois State for a single game at Lambert Field. First pitch is scheduled for 4 p.m.