April 15, 2009
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. - Quinn Ewert tied a career-high with five strikeouts in his best start of the season but a pair of runs weren't enough to earn the senior his first win as the Redbirds fell, 5-2, to Purdue at Duffy Bass Field Wednesday night.
Ewert scattered six hits over six innings and pitched three scoreless innings to start the game, but the Redbirds (16-12) managed just two runs in the third inning en route to their second-consecutive loss. Purdue (16-15) starter Drew Wurdack struck out seven and gave up six hits in seven innings and gave up just the two runs - both unearned - to the Redbirds to earn the win.
Collin Salzenstein and Justin Rahn scored Illinois State's runs in the third frame as the Redbirds took advantage of three Purdue errors. Salzenstein reached on an error that allowed Rahn to score from third, and then scored on an RBI double by Tyler McNeely off the base of the wall.
Purdue answered with two runs in the fourth thanks to a pair of triples and a sacrifice fly, and then went ahead on a two-out, RBI single by David Blount in the fifth to make it a 3-2 game. Blount finished the game 3-for-5 with a double, a triple and two RBI.
The Boilermakers added one run each on Redbird relievers Kyle Nelson and Jim Sajewich who pitched the seventh and eighth innings for Illinois State, before Matt Werderitch struck out two in a scoreless ninth.
Illinois State loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth but Purdue closer Kevin Cahill wiggled out of the jam with a strikeout to end the game and earn his fourth save of the season.
The Redbirds resume Missouri Valley Conference play and travel to Northern Iowa for a three-game series, starting Friday at 6 p.m. at Riverfront Stadium in Waterloo, Iowa. Illinois State's Ryan Camp is expected to start against UNI's Nick Kir.
