May 14, 2010
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. - Matt Bischoff (9-1) dominated in a complete-game effort on the mound and the Purdue offense plated eight runs on 11 hits in an 8-2 win over Illinois (23-23, 8-11) in the opener of a pivotal three-game Big Ten series at Illinois Field on Friday.
The victory ensures the Boilermakers will remain in a tie atop the league standings at 11-8 with five games remaining, while improving them to 29-18 for the year.
After giving up a run on back-to-back base hits in the bottom of the first inning, Bischoff baffled the Illini batting order to the tune of 23 consecutive outs. The senior right-hander retired the side in order from the second until the seventh and got the first two outs in the eighth before allowing an infield single and RBI triple to Thomas Shelton and Christian Cummins, respectively.
Bischoff's CG effort, the first thrown by a Purdue pitcher this season, earned him his ninth win of the season to take over sole possession of second on the school season list. He allowed just the two runs on six hits and finished with six strikeouts and no walks in the dominating effort.
Offensively Purdue opened the game up in the sixth, plating four runs on four hits, including a two-run homer by Kevin Plawecki, to take a 5-1 edge.
Tied 1-1, Ryan Bridges opened the frame with a base hit and came around on Plawecki's team-leading eighth home run of the season.
Pinch runner Jon Moore, who replaced a hit Angelo Cianfrocco at first and advanced to third on Cameron Perkins' double, narrowly avoided the tag of starting pitcher Lee Zerrusen at the plate on a passed ball to put the Boilers up three. Jonathan Lilly then tacked on another run with single through the right side of the infield to push Perkins home and make it 5-1 Purdue.
An Illini error with two outs in the top of the eighth led to three more Purdue runs and a 8-1 edge, with Eric Charles delivering the biggest hit on a two-run double.
Trailing 1-0 after three complete, Purdue knotted the game in the fourth with a run-scoring fielder's choice off the bat of Perkins.
Perkins led the way individually, finishing the contest 3 for 4 with his 15th double of the year, the most by a freshman in Purdue history, an RBI and two runs scored. Bridges extended his hitting streak to a season-high 13 consecutive games by going 2 for 5 with two runs scored and Plaweck chipped in with a 2 for 5, two-RBI game.
UI's Zerrusen (2-6) was charged with the loss after allowing five runs on nine hits in 5 1/3 innings of work.
The Boilers, who have won all eight Big Ten series openers this season, will look to keep pace in the conference race against the Illini on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. ET with left-hander Calvin Gunter the starter for Purdue. The game will be televised live on the Big Ten Network.