April 11, 2012
MUNCIE, Ind. - No. 18 Purdue baseball scored a season-high 12 times on 11 hits while sending 17 men to the plate in the sixth inning, blowing open a one-run game entering the frame and defeating Ball State, 15-2, Wednesday afternoon.The Boilermakers (25-5) won their fifth straight game and for the ninth time in their last 10 games. Purdue also posted its 12th straight victory in true midweek action dating back to March 2011.
Angelo Cianfrocco and David Miller both connected for two-run homers in their second at-bats of the sixth inning. It marked the 15th time this season that the Boilers have scored four or more runs in an inning. Thirteen of those extended rallies have come from the sixth through ninth innings. Meanwhile, Purdue has now posted 12-, nine-, eight- and seven-run rallies in the sixth inning this season.
Robert Ramer worked four innings of two-run ball to improve to 3-0 this season and 10-0 for his career. The Boilermakers are 12-1 in his 13 career starts, many of which have come during the current 12-game midweek win streak. Ramer finally issued his first walk of the season in the third inning and it helped Ball State (7-23) score its first run of the game.
Calvin Gunter, Sean Collins, Mike Sudbury and Pat Gannon teamed up for five innings of scoreless relief.
Every batter in Purdue's original starting lineup had a hit in the sixth inning. Cianfrocco and Stephen Talbott both recorded a pair of hits, Cianfrocco racking up six total bases, and scored twice in the frame. Miller registered an RBI in each of his two plate appearances in the sixth, executing a squeeze bunt his first time up and going deep in his second at-bat. Tyler Spillner and Eric Charles both reached base safely twice during the rally thanks to a single and a walk.
The Boilermakers actually trailed 2-1 entering the fifth inning. But Talbott led off with a double and Purdue went on to score twice thanks in part to a pair of BSU errors. Cameron Perkins drove in a run for the fifth straight game. He finished with three RBI, driving in the go-ahead run in the fifth with a sacrifice fly and delivering a two-run single with the bases loaded in the sixth.
The Boilermakers recorded six extra-base hits during their 12-run rally. Three consecutive doubles from Barrett Serrato, Sean McHugh and Cianfrocco ignited the onslaught. Back-to-back squeeze bunts from Talbott and Miller followed. Talbott was safe on his bunt after the first baseman allowed the ball to roll up the line and it didn't go foul.
Talbott posted his third career four-hit effort despite hitting the ball out of the infield only once. Cianfrocco finished with three hits and three RBI, driving in the first run of the day with a two-out single in the second inning.
Cianfrocco connected for his second home run of the season and sixth career after the BSU left fielder dropped a fly ball to help extend the inning. It was Purdue's first home run since March 28. Miller also went deep to right field, connecting for his first home run of the year and fourth as a Boiler.
Kevin Plawecki had two hits and scored twice, highlighted by a two-run double in the sixth. He has now reached base safely in 25 consecutive games, the longest active streak on the team.
Defensively, the Boilers turned a pair of inning-ending double plays. Miller handled a bad hop cleanly and took it himself to the bag for an inning-ending 6-3 twin killing in the first inning. Gunter loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth, but induced a comebacker and started a 1-2-3 double play to keep BSU off the scoreboard. McHugh made a strong throw up the first base line to finish the twin killing after Gunter used an underhand flip to deliver the ball to the catcher for the first out.
Miller and first baseman Ryan Bridges teamed up on a highlight reel play to help Collins work a 1-2-3 seventh inning. Miller gloved the ball deep in the hole and Bridges picked the throw at first with a full-extension stretch towards home plate.
Purdue returns to action Friday when it opens a three-game Big Ten series against Illinois. First pitch at Lambert Field is set for 4 p.m.