April 2, 2011
Boxscores: Game 1 | Game 2 >>> Series Stats
MINNEAPOLIS - Joe Haase pitched a complete-game shutout and Cameron Perkins connected for a three-run homer in a game one win, highlighting Purdue baseball's doubleheader split at Minnesota Saturday afternoon at Target Field. The Boilermakers won game one, 7-0, but dropped the nightcap and rubber game of the series, 4-1.
Haase (3-1) struck out a career-high seven in his first complete-game shutout at Purdue. He joined Matt Morgan as pitchers to go the distance in a shutout victory this season.
The Boilermakers (17-10, 1-2 Big Ten) held the lead for all of game one after Eric Charles opened the day with a triple to left center and scored moments later on a squeeze bunt by Stephen Talbott. Charles, Talbott and Perkins, the top three hitters in the lineup in game one, were a combined 8-for-12 with five RBIs and six runs scored in the win.
Perkins connected for a three-run blast to left field, his second homer of the series, with the Boilers leading 1-0 in the third inning. He also singled home Talbott with two outs in the fifth to post his second career four-RBI effort.
But Purdue trailed all of game two after Minnesota (10-9, 2-1 Big Ten) scored a pair in the bottom of the first. The Boilermakers never had the lead in the opener and finale of the series, matching the number of games in which they failed to hold the lead at some point all season entering the weekend.
Haase scattered seven singles and stranded 10 men on base. He left the bases loaded in the third inning and induced an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play ball with two aboard in the sixth. The right-hander did not give up a hit after the sixth inning and retired seven straight from the seventh through ninth innings. He threw 131 pitches.
In the nightcap, Purdue left the bases loaded in the fifth inning and could not capitalize on a second-and-third, one-out scenario in the seventh. The Boilermakers stranded 10 runners on base in the loss, leaving the potential tying run on base in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings.
Tyler Spillner recorded Purdue's lone RBI in game two, drawing a bases-loaded walk in the fifth inning that chased starter Austin Lubinsky. Spillner was 0-for-8 on the day, seeing his 10-game hitting streak come to an end in game one.
Perkins has now hit safely in nine consecutive games after reaching on an infield single in the fourth inning of game two.
Nick Wittgren worked four innings of one-run relief to give Purdue a chance to rally in the nightcap. He kept the Gophers off the scoreboard until the eighth, when Spillner was unable to pick up a fly ball off the bat and it fell safely in right center for a run-scoring triple.
Purdue returns to action Wednesday for a 3 p.m. midweek game at Butler.
Game One Recap
Talbott and Perkins both had three hits and a sacrifice bunt in the game one victory. Charles doubled and Talbott singled to set the stage for Perkins' heroics in the third inning. With runners on the corners, Perkins not only drove in the runner from third but also gave Haase a four-run lead to work with.
Purdue extended its lead with back-to-back two-out hits in the fifth inning and tacked on two insurance tallies in the eighth. Talbott doubled to left and scored from second on a close play at the plate on Perkins' subsequent single to center field.
Talbott also led off the eighth with a bunt single. After a walk to Kevin Plawecki, Barrett Serrato singled home Talbott. Andrew Dixon picked up an RBI with a sharp ground ball to the right side that Minnesota second baseman Matt Puhl made a diving play on.
Haase worked 1-2-3 frames in the fourth and eighth innings. He recorded at least one strikeout in six of his first seven innings, ending the first, third and fourth with a K.
Game Two Recap
Lance Breedlove started on the mound for Purdue after an illness sidelined Brad Schreiber. Breedlove (2-1) pitched into the fourth, giving up one earned run. After surrendering a pair of singles in the fourth, he gave way to Blake Mascarello and the bullpen. Mascarello got the first man he faced, catcher Matt Halloran, to hit into an inning-ending double play.
Purdue made it a one-run game on Spillner's bases-loaded walk in the fifth inning but the Boilers left the bases loaded when Billy Soule got Talbott to pop out to end the threat. Minnesota starter Austin Lubinsky cruised through his first four innings but was unable to get out of the fifth and qualify for the win. Soule (2-1) backed him up with three innings of scoreless relief.
The Boilermakers had a chance to tie the game in the seventh when David Miller walked and Payton Bieker singled to begin the frame. Dixon moved both runners up a base when he executed a sacrifice bunt as a pinch hitter. But Soule got out of the jam by striking out Spillner and getting Perkins to hit into an inning-ending fielder's choice.
Charles singled and Miller walked against Minnesota closer Scott Matyas in the eighth, but Matyas came back and retired the final four batters in order to close out the rubber game win for the Gophers.
Game two also featured a pair of excellent defensive plays. Puhl made a diving stop and flipped the ball with his glove to start an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play in the fourth. In the bottom of the frame, Spillner made an impressive diving catch in deep left center on a well-hit ball by Kyle Geason.