May 7, 2011
EAST LANSING, Mich. - Purdue baseball put the potential go-ahead run on base while loading the bases in the seventh and eighth innings, but settled for only one run in both frames and lost to Michigan State, 5-3, Saturday afternoon in game two of the series.The Spartans (29-14, 12-5 Big Ten) scored all five of their runs with two outs in an inning. In the first two games of the series, MSU has plated 12 of its 16 runs with two outs thanks to 12 two-out hits. Conversely, the Boilers (30-15, 10-7 Big Ten) are 5-for-21 as a team with two outs.
Six of the nine runners Purdue left on base Saturday were stranded over the seventh and eighth innings. The Boilermakers have left 22 runners on base over the first two games of the series.
By dropping the first two games of the showdown series between the top two teams in the Big Ten standings, Purdue suffered back-to-back losses for only the third time all season, and for the first time since the spring break trip. The Boilermakers lost only their second series of the year, both coming on the road in Big Ten play.
Michigan State is assured of being alone in first place at the end of the weekend regardless of the outcome of Sunday's series finale. The Spartans remained perfect at home (8-0) in Big Ten play.
Trailing 4-1 in the top of the seventh, Purdue loaded the bases with one. Tim Simpson replaced MSU starter Tony Bucciferro after a walk to David Miller. Simpson struck out Stephen Talbott for the second out of the inning. The Boilermakers were able to score a run on an infield single by Tyler Spillner but Simpson got out of the jam by getting Eric Charles to fly out to right field.
Down 5-2 an inning later, Purdue loaded the bases with no outs but again scored just one run. Simpson hit Cameron Perkins and walked Barrett Serrato before being replaced by David Garner, who plunked Kevin Plawecki with his first pitch to load the bases.
Garner responded by striking out Angelo Cianfrocco on three pitches. After Perkins scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Andrew Dixon, Garner walked Miller to again the load the bases for Talbott. A ground ball to third base ended the threat.
Not only did MSU score all five runs with two outs, but also manufactured three of those tallies after the first two batters of an inning were retired. The Spartans took the lead in the third inning thanks to three straight hits from Ryan Jones, Jeff Holm and Torsten Boss. The seventh-inning insurance run scored on a two-out double into the left field corner from Justin Scanlon following a base hit through the right side from Tony Wieber.
Cianfrocco's relief work highlighted the day on the mound for the Boilers. In just his second collegiate appearance, the left-hander worked 2 2/3 innings of one-run relief. He stranded four runners on base, including three in scoring position. Cianfrocco successfully retired both Holm and Boss with a man in scoring position in the sixth and eighth innings. They were a combined 5-for-6 in the first five innings of the game.
Purdue had the top of the order due up in the top of the ninth but went 1-2-3 against Wieber. The Boilermakers were retired in order three times Saturday after having at least one base runner in every inning Friday.
Charles doubled home Talbott for Purdue's first run of the game in the sixth inning. The Boilermakers had managed only three hits over the first five innings against MSU starter Tony Bucciferro, who worked 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball to improve his record to 7-2.
Back-to-back base hits by Cianfrocco and Dixon followed by the walk to Miller loaded the bases and chased Bucciferro in the seventh.
Calvin Gunter (5-1) got the call to start for Purdue after scheduled starter Joe Haase was moved to Sunday. Gunter kept the Boilers in the game, surrendering two runs over the first four innings. He gave way to the bullpen after walking Joel Fisher to load the bases with two outs in the fifth. Nick Wittgren was unable to retire the first man he faced in relief, giving up a two-run single to Wieber that put MSU up 4-0.
The series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m.