March 19, 2011
COOKEVILLE, Tenn. - Tyler Spillner led off the game with a home run for the third time in his career, but Tennessee Tech rallied with four two-run innings to defeat Purdue baseball, 8-3, in the middle game of a three-game series Saturday afternoon.The Boilermakers (12-6) took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the fourth but Tech (8-11) tied it with a two-run rally and took the lead for good in the following inning.
Purdue managed only five hits against TTU pitchers Matthew Shepherd and Cullen Park, a pair of right-handers with live arms. After giving up the game-opening home run to Spillner, Shepherd (2-3) held the Boilers hitless until the sixth inning. Purdue's runs in the third and sixth innings were both unearned. Park closed out the game with two hitless innings of relief, striking out four.
Nick Wittgren (1-2) struck out a season-high five and did not issue a walk in his first start as a Boilermaker. The sophomore gave up only hit through his first three frames, but the Tech leadoff man reached safely in the fourth, fifth and sixth and eventually scored. Wittgren gave way to the Purdue bullpen after giving up six runs over 5 1/3 innings.
Trailing 4-2 in the top of the six, Purdue had its best chance to tie the game with the bases loaded. Spillner, Eric Charles and Kevin Plawecki were aboard when Barrett Serrato singled to center field to make it a one-run game. But a base running blunder by Serrato moments later brought the inning to an end. Serrato was doubled off at first base on a soft looping line drive to second base off the bat of Ryan Bridges.
Purdue also brought the potential tying run to the plate in the seventh and eighth innings. But Shepherd struck out Charles to end the seventh and Park fanned Bridges and David Miller to close the eighth.
Controversy ensued in the bottom of the sixth and top of the seventh. Wittgren struck out Casanova Donaldson swinging to begin the bottom of the sixth but the ball ricocheted up the third base line allowing Donaldson to reach safely on a dropped third strike. Purdue argued that the ball caromed off the foot of Donaldson, who would score on a one-out base hit from Evan Frazier. Tennessee Tech's two-run sixth inning extended its lead to 6-3.
Miller was hit by a pitch in the right elbow for the second time in the game to begin the top of the seventh. The home plate umpire ruled for the second time that Miller did make an effort to get out of the way of the pitch off the inside corner, ordering the shortstop to return to the plate. Purdue head coach Doug Schreiber was ejected in the seventh after arguing both calls.
Spillner reached base safely in four of his five plate appearances, scoring two of the Boilers' three runs. His leadoff home run was his second homer of the series and third of the current spring break trip.
Stephen Talbott extended his hitting streak to seven consecutive games with a two-out single in the seventh. He has hit safely in every game of the current road trip.
Charles gave Purdue a 2-0 lead in the third inning with a sacrifice fly line drive to left field that plated Talbott. Cameron Perkins and Serrato both drew walks against Park in the top of the eighth, but the Boilers stranded a pair in the inning. Tech blew the game open with a pair of two-out runs in the bottom of the frame.
Sunday's rubber game is slated for 2 p.m. (EDT). It will also be the finale of Purdue's season-opening stretch of 19 consecutive games away from home.