March 23, 2011
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The lineup racked up nine early runs thanks to nine extra-base hits and Calvin Gunter worked five innings of one-hit ball, leading Purdue baseball to a 9-3 victory against Wabash Wednesday afternoon at Lambert Field.
The Boilermakers (14-7) scored six times thanks to five extra-base hits in the second inning, sending 10 men to the plate.
Freshman Sean McHugh made his first career start behind the plate and drove in a run in each of his first three plate appearances. He doubled in Purdue's first run of the day and went deep to open the third inning, connecting for the first home run of the year at Lambert Field.
Kevin Plawecki went 3-for-3 with an RBI single and a double, raising his average for the season to .402. The sophomore has reached base safely in 12 of his last 15 plate appearances over the last the three games.
Gunter (1-0) retired the first 14 Wabash batters of the game in order before finally giving up a two-out single in the fifth inning. He struck out the first batter of the second, third and fifth innings and finished the day with five Ks, match his career high. Nick Wittgren, Mike Sudbury and Matt Gibbs each worked an inning of scoreless relief. Wittgren struck out the side in the sixth inning.
Purdue's first five hits of the second inning went for extra bases. Barrett Serrato and McHugh recorded back-to-back doubles to get the Boilers on the board. After a walk to Payton Bieker, Tyler Spillner, Eric Charles, Cameron Perkins and Plawecki strung together four consecutive hits - all driving in at least one run.
Spillner doubled homed McHugh and Charles plated two more with a double down the left field line. Perkins connected for triple off the warning track in left center and Plawecki capped the rally with an opposite field single.
Doubles by Plawecki and Serrato set the stage for another Purdue rally in the fourth inning. McHugh followed with a sacrifice fly to center field and Bieker plated Serrato with a triple into the left field corner.
The Boilermakers did have their trouble making contact, especially late in the day. Eleven of the 24 outs Wabash (7-12) recorded came via the strikeout. The Little Giants registered at least one strikeout in every inning but the first. Andrew Swart struck out the side in the sixth inning moments after Wittgren had done the same in the top of the frame.
Purdue returns to action Friday when it opens a three-game series against Bradley. The first two games are scheduled to played in Peoria and the finale is set for Lambert Field on Sunday.