May 14, 2009
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue rapped out 17 hits, including five doubles and four home runs, as it inched closer to securing the sixth and final spot in the Big Ten Tournament with a 12-5 win over visiting Illinois at Lambert Field on Thursday.
The Boilermakers improved to an even 23-23 overall for the season and 10-11 in the Big Ten, while Illinois dropped to 32-17 overall and 15-7 in the league.
The Boilermakers remain a game and half ahead of Michigan (30-23, 9-13 Big Ten) for the last spot in the conference championship tournament. The Wolverines defeated Northwestern 16-6 in Evanston, Ill., on Thursday. Another Purdue victory or a Michigan loss will secure a spot for for the Boilers in the league tournament to be held in Columbus, Ohio, next week.
Junior Nick Overmyer got the Purdue offensive explosion started with a solo home run in the second inning and Drew Madia's grand slam in the eighth capped off the day. Overmyer's blast was his first of the season, while Madia rounded the bases on his fifth long-ball of the year and his second with the bases loaded.
Alex Jaffee added a solo home run to left in the fourth and Dan Black chipped in with his team-leading 14th homer of the season, a three-run shot to left-center, in the fifth.
Black finished the day 3 for 4 with a double, five RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Senior teammate Ben Wolgamot also had three hits, going 3 for 4 with a pair of doubles, an RBI and a game-high three runs scored.
Senior Brandon Haveman extended his hitting streak to a season-best 15 straight games on a single in the third and ended the game 2 for 5 with a double and two runs scored. Jaffee and senior classmate John Cummins both went 2 for 4 for Purdue in the win.
On the mound, Boilermaker starter Matt Bischoff (4-4) allowed just three runs on seven hits over six innings of work to pick up his fourth win of the year. He struck out three and walked one. Reliever Drew Wurdack took over for Bischoff in the seventh and earned a three-inning save after giving up two unearned runs in the top of the ninth inning. It was Wurdack's second successful conversion of the year.
Illinois starter Phil Haig (6-3) was charged with the loss after allowing six runs on 11 hits in five innings of work. He struck out three and did not issue a walk in the loss.
Purdue and Illinois will meet up for game two of the three-game series on Friday at 1 p.m. Left-hander Matt Jansen is the scheduled starter for the Boilers.