Team has season's biggest run, hit output

By Keith Thomas
Staff Writer

One day after receiving more votes in the USA Today Baseball Weekly/ESPN College Coaches Poll than any other Big Ten team, the Boilers set out Tuesday to prove they were deserving of the honor.

In a game in which every Purdue (29-14, 13-7 Big Ten) starter had at least one hit, the Boilers beat IUPUI by three touchdowns and a two-point conversion — winning 27-5.

Led by second baseman Erik Frei’s 4-for-6, 3 RBI day — which included a triple — Purdue exploded for its biggest run and hit output of the season. It's also the third-highest run total in Purdue history. The Boilers beat Butler 37-0 in 1908 and Boston 36-16 in 1991. The 22 run difference in Tuesday's score is the third-largest margin of victory in Boiler history.

Frei’s four hits, however, were less than one-sixth of the total hits as the Boiler offense ended the game with 25.

"It was good coming out and hitting and getting all those runs," said Frei, "because we can just try to build on this for this weekend and keep getting better."

Ten of the Boilers’ 25 hits went for extra bases, including nine doubles and a triple.

During a season in which solid pitching has put the Boilers in a tie for third in the Big Ten, the Purdue offense showed that it wanted to contribute to the success as well.

After a three-run first inning, the Purdue batsmen were just getting started. The Boilers followed with a 10-run third inning and a seven-run fourth. They also combined to score seven more runs in the final three innings of the game.

"This team’s going to be dangerous once the pitching and hitting all coincide with each other," said Frei. "I think we’re peaking at the perfect time of the year. You couldn’t ask for anything else."

The Boiler offensive machine looked as if it peaked on Tuesday. Purdue at one time led the Jaguars 20-0. Following the 10-run third inning — Purdue’s largest single inning of the year — it seemed that everyone on the team was going to get involved.

Freshman Nick McIntyre had a pair of doubles; senior left fielder Chris Walker added three hits while scoring three runs; freshman John Badylak knocked in three runs with a double and a single; and fellow freshman Brad Kriner added three hits with a double and two RBIs. Michael Correll, Daryl Hallada, Daniel Underwood and Brandon Buck added two hits apiece in Tuesday afternoon’s hit parade.

"For some of the guys who don’t get to play every day to come in and be able to contribute — it goes to show how good we can be when we want to be," said Kriner, who leads the Boilers with a .367 batting average.

In addition to other batters getting an opportunity at the plate, the Boilers used six different pitchers in the game. Freshman Sean O’Neil (2-0) got the start on Tuesday and threw three scoreless innings for the win.

"Our guys stayed in the game," said Coach Doug Schreiber. "That’s what I appreciated.

Following Tuesday’s big win, the Boilers travel to play a single game with Xavier this afternoon before departing for Oklahoma State for a three-game series from this weekend.

Despite the Boilers being in the middle of a five-game non-conference stint, Schreiber said every game is important.

"(Today’s) a big game for us," he said. "Every game that we can win from this point on is going to help us."

Following the road trip, Purdue comes home to host a four-game series with Northwestern and with the conference championship with in reach, Frei said the Boilers have to play each game with equal intensity and focus.

"We’re going to take one game at a time like we do every week and keep our heads down and keep playing," said Frei. "Hopefully when we look up, we’ll be hosting the (Big Ten) Tournament."