Ball State University
Purdue
Baseball Falls To Purdue,14-6
April 28, 2009 | Baseball
MUNCIE, Ind. ? The Ball State baseball team suffered its first loss of the season to a Big Ten opponent as the Cardinals dropped a 14-6 decision against Purdue on a cool and rainy Tuesday afternoon at Ball Diamond. The game was halted after the eighth inning due to steady rain and wet field conditions after the teams had already had a 30-minute delay in the first inning. Tuesday's loss drops the Cardinals to 3-1 against the Big Ten this season and 19-19 overall on the year while Purdue improves to 18-21.
Purdue opened the scoring in the top of the second inning after the delay against senior right-hander Adam Quinn (Crown Point, Ind./Crown Point). The Boilermakers scored the runs on four hits including a big two-run double by Brandon Haverman.
Ball State responded in the bottom of the second inning against Purdue starter Drew Wurdack. Freshman first baseman Ian Nielsen (La Porte, Ind./La Porte) reached base on a fielder's choice and sophomore shortstop T.J. Baumet (Brownsburg, Ind./Brownsburg) continued his strong play as he hit a two-run home run over the right center field wall to pull within one. The home run was Baumet's eighth of the season and fifth in the last four games.
The Boilermakers added two more runs in the third inning as they took a 5-2 lead as Nick Overmeyer had a two-run single. The Cardinals chipped in an unearned run to narrow the gap to 5-3 as junior center fielder Jeremy Hazelbaker (Selma, Ind./Wapahani) singled to left field. Hazelbaker stole second and moved to third on a deep fly ball. He was able to come home and score as sophomore Kolbrin Vitek (Bryan, Ohio/Bryan) reached on a Purdue error.
Purdue extended its lead to 9-3 with runs in the fifth, sixth and two in the seventh inning against the Cardinals' bullpen. Overmeyer continued his strong game as he added two more RBI-singles to push the Boilermaker lead to six runs. He finished the afternoon with five hits and six RBI.
Ball State made a push in the bottom of the seventh inning against Purdue reliever Blake Mascarello. After an out, freshman third baseman Tim Issler (Cincinnati, Ohio/St. Xavier) reached on an infield single and moved to third as Hazelbaker doubled to left field. Senior second baseman Nate Fields (Cincinnati, Ohio/Anderson) drove in Issler with a ground out to second base for the Cardinals' fourth run of the day.
Vitek followed with a single to right center to plate Hazelbaker. After a single by junior catcher Zach Dygert (Angola, Ind./Angola), Nielsen drew a walk to load the bases. Junior pinch hitter Kory Benbow (Muncie, Ind./Cowan) stepped up and drove in Vitek as he reached on an infield single to chase Mascarello from the game. Kevin Cahill came on in relief and got Baumet to ground out to end the threat with the bases loaded.
The Boilermakers broke the game open with five runs in the top of the fifth inning as it scored the runs on four hits and two Ball State errors to take a 14-6 lead. The Cardinals were held scoreless in the bottom half of the inning before the umpires called the game due to steady run and wet field conditions.
Quinn (2-3) was charged with the loss as he allowed five runs on eight hits in three innings of work. Wurdack (3-1) picked up the victory as he went six innings and allowed three runs on five hits. Cahill tallied his fifth save of the year after getting out of the bases loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Ball State will return to action Wednesday afternoon as it hosts IPFW at Ball Diamond. First pitch is set for 3 p.m. with freshman right-hander Cal Bowling (Muncie, Ind./Yorktown) set to take the hill for the Cardinals.
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