March 16, 2010
GAME TIME FOR THE TWO-GAME SERIES FINALE AGAINST EASTERN KENTUCKY ON WEDNESDAY HAS BEEN CHANGED FROM 3 P.M. TO 1:30 P.M.
RICHMOND, Ky. - The Purdue baseball team dropped a 5-2 decision to Eastern Kentucky in the opener of a two-game midweek series at Turkey Hughes Field. The loss bumped the Boilermakers to 3-8 for the year, while EKU snapped a three-game losing streak to improve to 7-6 overall.
Leading 2-1 in the bottom of the third, EKU got a two-run homer by third baseman Jayson Langfels and a solo shot from Ryan Faidley for a 5-1 edge.
The Boilermakers scratched across a single run in the top of the fourth to make it a three-run game, but couldn't pull any closer as EKU relievers Matt Harris and Ryne Purcell blanked the Boiler offense on just two hits over the final five innings.
Barret Arthur drove home the Boilermakers' first run on a two-out double in the top of the second after EKU plated a pair of runs on four hits in home half of the first.
Purdue got a strong performance from left-hander Blake Mascarello out of the bullpen. The sophomore southpaw took over for starter Brad Schreiber in the third and finished with eight strikeouts over the final 5 2/3 innings.
EKU right-hander Austin Rexroat (1-0) picked up his first collegiate win, limiting Purdue to two runs on three hits over a designated four-inning start. Purcell worked a scoreless ninth with pair of strikeouts for his fifth save.
Purdue's Schreiber (0-1) was charged with the loss after allowing four runs on seven hits in 2 1/3 innings.
Purdue will wrap up the two-game midweek series with Colonels on Wednesday. First pitch has been changed from 3 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. to accommodate the EKU basketball team which hosting a CBI postseason game on campus at 7 p.m.