April 14, 2010
Box Score
NORMAL, Ill. - Tyler McNeely went 2-for-3 at the plate and Matt Werderitch struck out three in 1.2 scoreless innings of relief but Illinois State was defeated, 11-3, in a non-conference, mid-week contest against Purdue at Duffy Bass Field Wednesday. Purdue knocked 13 hits and the Boilermaker pitching staff combined to strike out the Redbirds 11 times.
Illinois State (15-15) pushed across the first run of the game with two outs in the first, to continue a trend of impressive two-out hitting from Sunday's series finale with Creighton, in which the Redbirds tallied all nine hits and six runs with two away. The similarities between the two games ended there, however, as Purdue (17-14) plated three in the top of the second - including two on back-to-back home runs by Drew Madia and Kevin Plawecki - and four more in the top of the fourth to lead 7-2 going into the fifth inning.
The Boilermakers scored three more runs in the top of the sixth before Werderitch entered the game and struck out two to end the inning. Werderitch struck out another in the seventh and worked around a two-out single to post a scoreless frame. Redbird reliever Cam Verbeke struck out three in the final two innings but was tagged with a run in the eighth.
Purdue starter Drew Wurdack (3-2) earned the win after striking out seven batters and scattering four hits over four innings. Nick Overmyer (3), Plawecki (2), Cameron Perkins (2) and Tyler Spillner (2) all had multiple hits in the game for the Boilermakers.
McNeely, Josh Colon and Ryan Court each had an RBI in the game for the Redbirds, with Court adding two walks to his day at the plate. All but two - Colon and Brett Kay - of Illinois State's starters had a strikeout in the game.
There were 578 people at the game on Buck Night Wednesday. Illinois State resumes Missouri Valley Conference play when it plays host to Southern Illinois for a three-game series this weekend at Duffy Bass Field. There are two promotions for Friday's contest - Greek Day and Family Day. The Greek chapter with the most members present will win free pizzas from Papa Johns, and a family four pack - two adult tickets and two children's tickets - costs just $10. Friday's game will begin at 4:30 p.m.
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