March 13, 2011
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MARTIN, Tenn. - In a game that featured six home runs, Cody Terry's two-run blast in the bottom of the ninth capped a series that featured three one-run games as Tennessee-Martin rallied to defeat Purdue baseball, 10-9, Sunday afternoon.The Skyhawks (4-10) scored five times on a pair of homers in the bottom of the ninth to snap the Boilermakers' eight-game win streak. Both teams connected for three long balls Sunday after no home runs were hit in the first two games of the series.
For Purdue (11-3), Eric Charles went deep twice and Tyler Spillner led off the game with a home run for the second time in his career. Charles posted his first multi-homer game with a solo shot in the fifth and a two-run blast in the eighth.
Trailing 3-2 with two outs in the top of the sixth, the Boilers surged ahead with four unearned runs after an error by Terry allowed the inning to continue. Barrett Serrato delivered the big hit of the rally, a two-run single to right field to chase UTM starter Alex Boshers.
Purdue starter Brad Schreiber worked a career-high seven innings of four-run ball, a much-needed quality outing after the Boilers had to use four pitchers in each of the first two games of the series.
Trailing 9-5 entering the bottom of the ninth, UTM pinch hitter Matt Young led off with a base hit to center field. After a walk, Cory Stooksbury connected for a three-run homer to left field to chase reliever Calvin Gunter. Sean Collins (1-1) entered the game and got the first batter he faced, leadoff hitter Trey Karlen, to hit a ground ball to third base, where Jake Hansen was unable to make the play. The Skyhawks chose to sacrifice the potential tying run into scoring position. Terry won the game with one swing, redeeming himself for a pair of errors defensively.
The Boilermakers left eight runners on base, including six in scoring position, and also had a runner tagged out on a run down between third base and home.
Charles tied the game on the first pitch of the fifth inning, connecting for a long solo home run to left field. Charles and Spillner had also homered at Skyhawk Field as freshmen in 2009.
With David Miller on third base and two outs in the sixth inning, Terry bobbled a ground ball to shortstop off the bat of Stephen Talbott. Purdue surged ahead moments later, taking advantage of the extra out in the inning. The Boilermakers used a hit and run with Spillner at the plate and Talbott took third on the single through the right side. Charles was hit by a pitch to load the bases for Serrato, who gave Purdue the lead with his two-run single.
After the pitching change, Kevin Plawecki drove in another run with an infield single, his third hit of the day.
Talbott led off the top of the eighth with a double, his third extra-base hit of the series. He scored from second when a ground ball off the bat of Spillner got through Terry and into center field. Charles followed with his second home run of the day to extend the Boilers' lead to 9-4.
Schreiber gave up only one hit his first time through the UTM lineup and kept the Skyhawks off the scoreboard until the fourth. After giving up a leadoff double in the sixth, the right-hander retired the final six batters he faced over his last two innings.
The Boilermakers continue their eight-game spring break trip when they travel to Nashville, Tenn., for midweek games at No. 2 Vanderbilt (Tuesday) and Belmont (Wednesday). The first pitch of both games is slated for 5 p.m. (EDT).