March 17, 2010
RICHMOND, Ky. Including back-to-back two-out solo homers, the Purdue baseball team scored three runs in the top of the eighth inning to overcame a 3-2 deficit for a series-splitting 7-3 win over Eastern Kentucky (7-7) at Turkey Hughes field on Wednesday. The victory improved the Boilermakers to 4-8 on the year and to 3-2 in the middle on their eight-game spring break trip.
Trailing by a run after seven complete innings, leadoff hitter Stephen Talbott started the rally off of Colonels' closer Ryne Percell with a single to open the eighth. After a fly out by Eric Charles, Talbott stole second and came around to tie the game on a single to left by freshman classmate Kevin Plawecki, one of his four RBIs in the game.
Plawecki was retired trying to advance to second on a wild pitch for the second out in the frame, but Cameron Perkins, who went 3 for 5 with a double in the contest, followed by hitting a solo home run to left to hand Purdue its first lead of the day. Pinch hitter Drew Madia then went yard in the next at bat to right-center for back-to-back Purdue jacks to push the advantage to 5-3.
Perkins homer was his second of his freshman season, while Madia went yard for the first time this year and the 10th time in his career.
Purdue added two more runs in the top of the ninth on sacrifice flies by Charles and Plawecki that plated Angelo Cianfrocco and Nick Overmyer for a four-run lead.
Purdue left-hander Calvin Gunter, who entered in the eighth and tossed a perfect frame, worked around a pair of walks in the ninth to close out his second save of the season.
Purdue's late inning heroics offensively earned southpaw reliever Pat Gannon his first collegiate victory. The frosh tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief of starter Drew Wurdack.
Wurdack, who did not factor in the decision, kept the Boilermakers closer into the sixth. The right-hander allowed three runs, only two of which were earned, on six hits over 5 1/3 innings. He struck out four and walked three.
Purdue's Talbott, who finished the game 3 for 4 with a double and three runs scored, plated the Boilers' first two runs in the game, scoring on a Plawecki ground out in the first and a Plawecki sac fly in the sixth.
EKU scored single runs in the second, fourth and fifth, but couldn't protect the one-run lead despite having its closer on the mound.
Purcell (1-1), who recorded his fifth save of the season in EKU's 5-2 win over the Boilers on Tuesday, was charged with the loss after coughing up the lead in the eighth. He allowed three runs on five hits in one inning of work.
The Boilermakers will conclude their eight-game spring break road trip with a three-game series at Ohio this weekend. First pitch of the series opener on Friday is scheduled for 4 p.m. with RHP Matt Bischoff the scheduled starter for Purdue.