April 3, 2010
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A 10-run second inning by Minnesota proved to be too much for the Purdue baseball team to overcome in 14-5 Golden Gopher victory at Lambert Field on Saturday. The loss dropped the Boilermakers to 13-11 for the year and evened the three-game series with the Gophers (10-17, 1-1) at one win apiece.
Minnesota roughed up starter Matt Jansen for six runs on four hits in the second and added four more runs on five hits off of reliever Robert Ramer in the frame.
In all, Minnesota sent 14 batters to the plate in the second and collected six singles, two doubles and a two-run homer to go along with two of Purdue's season-high 10 walks issued in the contest.
After giving up solo home runs to Barret Arthur and Nick Overmyer in the bottom of the second, UM starter TJ Oakes (2-1) settled in to pick up his second victory of the season. The right-hander allowed four runs, two earned, on seven hits over 5 2/3 innings.
Reliever Allen Bechstein worked the final 3 1/3 innings to notch his first save of the year.
Purdue's Jansen (2-2) was charged with the loss after lasting just 1 2/3 innings.
Offensively, all 10 Minnesota players with an at bat in the contest finished with at least one hit, as the Gophers rapped out 19 hits to Purdue's nine.
UM centerfielder Troy Larson led the way individually, finishing 4 for 6 with a double, an RBI and a game-high three runs scored. Third baseman Kyle Geason ended up 3 for 5 with a two RBIs and a pair of runs scored and DH Ryan Abrahamson hit the two-run homer for the Gophers in the second.
The Boilermakers got a strong showing from Arthur at the plate. The senior went 3 for 4 with the solo homer in the second, a double, one RBI and two runs scored. Freshman teammate Brad Schreiber was the only other Boilermaker with multiple hits, going 2 for 4 with a double.
Arthur and Overmyer's home runs tied the duo with freshman Cameron Perkins for the team lead with four long balls each this season.
Purdue and Minnesota will decide the victor of the first conference series of the season for both schools in the rubber game on Sunday. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. and admission is free for the Easter holiday. Right-hander Matt Morgan, who won five Big Ten rubber games last season, is the scheduled starter for the Boilermaker.