After weekend losses, Boilermakers work to gain momentum

By Seth Schwartz
Senior Writer

After a tough weekend against Minnesota in which Purdue lost two of the three games in the series, the baseball team will host another tough team — Valparaiso — for a game at 3 p.m. today at Lambert Field.

Purdue (6-14, 1-2 Big Ten) has beaten Valparaiso (6-7) four consecutive times, including a 10-1 victory last year in the opening home game on March 22. In that game, Daniel Underwood went 3-5 with a run and an RBI. Purdue also beat IUPUI 10-1 in last week's home opener.

In the Minnesota game, Purdue could have tied the series — the fourth game was canceled due to a below-zero degree wind chill factor. Purdue did manage to win the third game against Minnesota 4-2, which outfielder Nate Sickler said added to the team’s confidence.

"This weekend gave us a little more confidence because our bats are coming around," he said.

Purdue’s career record against Valparaiso is 47-14. The two teams play each other once every year, but Sickler said he still doesn’t know much about the Crusaders.

"We really have no idea what kind of team they are," said Sickler. "We’d like to carry our momentum from this weekend."

Purdue will continue its Big Ten season on Friday, traveling to East Lansing, Mich., for a four-game series against Michigan State.

"We expect to win against Valparaiso and carry our momentum into this weekend against Michigan State," said Sickler.

Although the team has struggled to win games so far this season, partially due to the quality of the teams on the schedule compared to years past, the team never goes on the field worried that it might lose a game. Actually, it is just the opposite.

"We expect to win every game," Sickler said. "It really doesn’t matter who we play."

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Sports editor:
Paul Trembacki

Assistant sports editor:
Anne McLaren

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