May 8, 2010
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Drew Madia snapped a 4-4 tie with a run-scoring single in the bottom of the seventh inning and Angelo Cianfrocco added a three-run homer in the frame as Purdue (27-17, 9-7) opened its three-game Big Ten series against Michigan State (28-15, 7-9) with an 8-5 win over the visiting Spartans at Lambert Field on Saturday.
After watching the Spartans rally to knot the game at 4-4 in the top of the seventh with three runs on four hits, the Boilers retook the lead in the home half when Ryan Bridges collected a one-out double and Madia plated him with a single up the middle.
Madia was replaced at first by pinch runner Barret Arthur, who promptly moved to second on a passed ball by MSU catcher Andy Johnson. Spartan starter AJ Achter then plunked Purdue backstop Kevin Plawecki to end his outing on the mound with runners on first and second in favor of reliever Tony Wieber.
Cianfrocco welcomed the MSU right-hander to the game with a three-run shot to straightaway center, the second home run of his rookie season, to push the Purdue lead to 8-4.
The Spartans took advantage of a Boilermaker error with one out in the top of the eighth for a single run, but reliever Matt Jansen came on and ended the inning on a pop up to third and grounder to second, stranding runners on second and third in the process.
Joe Haase took over in the ninth and struck out two of the three hitters he faced in a perfect inning of work to seal the victory and earn his second save of the season.
Boilermaker starter Matt Bischoff (8-1) recorded his eighth win of the year to move into eight-way tie for second on the Purdue season record list. The right-hander allowed five runs, four earned, on seven hits in 7 1/3 innings. He struck out seven and did not issue a walk for the fourth time in 10 starts this season.
MSU's Achter (4-3) was charged with the loss after allowing seven runs on 10 hits in 6 1/3 innings. He struck out four and walked two.
The Boilermakers opened the scoring in the first when Madia drove home Eric Charles from second on a single through the right side of the infield. MSU tied the game in the top of the fourth on an RBI double by Torsten Boss, but Purdue answered right back in the bottom of the inning a run-scoring double off the bat of Jonathan Lilly to make it 2-1.
Lilly and Nick Overmyer pushed the Purdue lead to three runs with RBI base hits in sixth, only to see MSU pull even in the top of the seventh on doubles by Jeff Holm, Boss and Chris Roberts and a run-scoring single by Andy Johnson. Combined the two schools teamed up to hit nine doubles on the afternoon.
Lilly led the 13-hit Purdue attack by going 3 for 4 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. Bridges, who is hitting at a .500 clip in his last eight games, continued his torrid ways by finishing 2 for 4 with a pair of doubles and a run scored, while Madia added a pair of hits and two RBIs for the Boilers. Cameron Perkins tied the Purdue freshman record for doubles with his 14th two-bagger of the season and scored a pair of runs.
Purdue and Michigan State will meet up for the second of three pivotal league games on Sunday at 1 p.m. Left-hander Calvin Gunter is the scheduled starter for the Boilermakers.