Every run in Tuesday’s game was scored with two outs, including all
six of Purdue’s first-inning runs. The Redbirds started chipping
away at the Purdue lead in the fourth inning, and trimmed the lead
to three after seven innings, but were unable to do any further
damage.
“You can’t expect to allow nine or 10 runs in the middle of the week
against a Big Ten team and live to tell about it,” said Illinois
State head coach Bo Durkac. “You give up six in the first, it’s
demoralizing for the guys. I thought we had some good at-bats after
that, but you just can’t fall behind like that.”
The Boilermakers took control of the game right from the start,
scoring six runs with two outs in the bottom of the first inning.
Brandon Krieg plated the game’s first runs with a two-run double.
Alec Olund then added an RBI single to score Krieg, who had stolen
third base. James Jewell followed with an RBI double to right-center
field. Ted Snidanko kept the rally going with another RBI single,
and later scored on a double from Hayden Grant.
Illinois State (21-21) scored its first two runs, plating a pair in
the fourth inning when Sean Beesley singled up the middle to drive
in Ryan Koziol and Jared Hendren.
Purdue (14-31) scored three runs in the bottom half of the inning,
however, all three with two outs. Olund drove in the inning’s first
run with a single, before pinch hitter Daniel Sander followed with a
two-run, two-out single.
Koziol plated the Redbirds’ third run of the game, hitting a 3-2
pitch through the right side of the infield to score Hendren in the
fifth inning. Illinois State added three more runs in the seventh,
thanks to a run-scoring infield single from Blake Molitor and a
two-run single up the middle from Joe Kelch.
[to top of second column] |
The Boilermakers ended all hopes of a Redbird comeback, however, as
Purdue reliever Alex Lyons recorded seven-straight outs to finish
out the game, earning his first win of the season.
Redbird starter Craig Larkin surrendered six runs (five earned) on
seven hits on the first inning. Reliever Matt Lambert allowed three
runs over 2.2 innings of work. Mitch Vogrin followed with 1.1
scoreless innings, with two strikeouts. Jack Czeszewski took over
from there, pitching a scoreless sixth inning. Jake Sale pitched a
1-2-3 eighth inning, with a pair of strikeouts, before Koziol worked
a scoreless eighth.
Koziol and Molitor registered two hits apiece in the loss. Kelch and
Beesley drove in two runs each and Hendren scored a pair of runs.
The Redbirds return to action Friday when they will play the first
game of a four-game set against visiting SIU-Edwardsville. First
pitch at Duffy Bass Field is set for 4:30 p.m. Friday.
[Matt Wing, Illinois State
University]
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics
tickets, Weisbecker Scholarship Fund gifts, multimedia, Redbird
merchandise, photos and more.
|