April 9, 2008
Final Stats
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -
Junior Kevin Dubler batted 1-for-2 with a double and two walks but a seventh-inning rally by the Purdue Boilermakers was the difference in the game, as the Illinois State baseball team (13-14) fell, 5-4, in a non-conference game Wednesday at Lambert Field. The Redbirds held a 4-2 lead after six and a half innings of play, but Purdue was able to plate three runs on two hits in the bottom half of the seventh to snap ISU's four-game winning streak.
The Redbirds scored all four of its runs in the first four innings, as ISU did not record a hit after the fourth. Senior Kyle Cherney finished 0-for-1 but tied his career-high with three walks, while junior Justin Rahn was 1-for-3 with two RBI. Freshman Ben Hays (0-1) suffered his first loss of the year, as he surrendered three runs in two innings of work. As a whole, the Redbird pitching staff allowed only six hits, but gave nine free passes via walks.
For the third-straight game, the Redbirds put runs on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning. Freshman Kevin Tokarski started the rally with a one-out walk and moved into scoring position after he stole second base, his 19th of the season. Dubler followed with a walk, and sophomore Gabe DeMarco delivered an RBI single to left field to plate Tokarski. Cherney then walked to load the bases, as Rahn brought home two more home on a single to left field, giving ISU a 3-0 lead.
However, Redbird starting pitcher Quinn Ewert also struggled on the mound; as he walked the first three batters of the Boilermakers' order in the bottom half of the first. Ewert was able to retire Normal, Ill., native Jordan Comadena on a 6-4-3 double play, but the Redbirds allowed centerfielder Brandon Haveman to score on the play. Ewert surrendered one more run in the inning on a bloop single to left field, as Purdue cut into the deficit, 3-2.
Illinois State added to its lead in the top of the fourth after sophomore Dan Weston led off with a double off the wall in left centerfield. Freshman Corey Maines moved him to third base on a sacrifice and junior Mike Stalowy plated Weston on a sacrifice fly to centerfield.
It wasn't until the seventh inning that the Boilermakers were able to break the Redbirds' relief pitchers, as Hays walked the leadoff batter of the frame. After the runner moved into scoring position on a sacrifice, Haveman lined a ball deep to left field. Sophomore Cole Marty, who had just entered the game, had to make a full sprint to get to ball and was not able to secure the catch, as it hit off his glove. One runner scored on the play, and Haveman scored when Hays balked, bringing him home from third base. Purdue added another run on a RBI groundout, giving them a 5-4 lead.
The Boilermaker bullpen was solid in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings, as pitchers Drew Wurdack, Andy Loomis and Josh Lindblom combined to record six strikeouts in three innings of scoreless ball.
The Redbirds will host Northern Iowa in a three-game Missouri Valley Conference series this weekend; beginning Friday at 6 p.m. Friday's game is the Third Annual Jimmy Buffett Day at Duffy Bass Field.
