May 10, 2009
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Leading 4-3 heading into the ninth inning, Purdue scored five insurance runs in its final at bat and needed every single one of them, as the Boilermakers (21-23, 8-11 Big Ten) held on for a 9-8 win over Michigan State (22-25, 12-8 Big Ten) at McLean Stadium on Sunday.
Trailing 4-0 through seven and half innings, the Spartans cut into Purdue's lead with three runs on two hits and a fielding error to cut the advantage to one heading into the final frame.
Highlighted by a bases-clearing, three-run triple by redshirt freshman Eric Charles, the Boilermakers plated five runs on four hits in the top of the ninth to pull out to their largest lead of the game at 9-3. Drew Madia and Nick Overmyer added run-scoring singles to help put Purdue into what seemed like a comfortable edge with three outs remaining.
Michigan State started out the home half of the inning with a walk, a single and a throwing error on a bunt single by Brandon Eckerle to push across a run to make 9-4 Purdue.
The Spartans continued their assault on the Boiler lead with an RBI single by Eli Boike and a walk to AJ Shindler to force reliever Kevin Cahill from the game with the lead at 9-5 and runners on first and second with nobody out.
Right-hander Drew Wurdack entered and surrendered a two-run single to Chris Roberts to cut the Boiler edge to 9-7 before recording the first out on a bunt off the bat of Eric Roof. The sacrifice advanced Boike to third and Shidler, the tying run, into scoring position at second.
Wurdack induced Johnny Lee into a run-scoring grounder to second for the second out, but the platted run made it 9-8 to cut further into Purdue's lead with the tying run 90 feet away at third.
Wurdack, Purdue's regular midweek starter, ended the threat and the game in the next at bat by striking out Jonathan Roof looking on four pitches to nail down his first save and preserve the one-run victory.
The late offensive fireworks stole away from a nice start from Purdue junior Matt Jansen (4-5). The left-hander, who would go on to pick up his fourth win of the season, blanked the Spartans over the first seven innings before tiring in the eighth. He finished his 7 2/3 innings of work allowing three runs, two earned, on six hits. He struck out four and walked two on the day.
MSU starter AJ Achter (3-4) was charged with the loss after allowing four runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings. He struck out three and walked five.
Purdue built a 4-0 lead through the first seven innings on a solo home run by Dan Black in the fourth, and RBI singles by Brandon Haveman and John Cummins and a bases loaded walk to Madia in the fifth.
The home run was Black's 13th of the season and handed him sole possession of second all-time in Purdue history as the 34th in his three-year career. Haveman led all players at plate, going 3 for 5 with an RBI and two runs scored. His RBI single in the fifth extended his hitting streak to 13 consecutive games.
Purdue and Michigan State will meet up for the rubber game of the series on Monday at 1:05 p.m. Right-hander Matt Morgan is the scheduled starter for Purdue.