Big inning boosts Boilers

By Paul Trembacki
Sports Editor

A lot has changed since Purdue lost to Illinois State 11-9 Feb. 24 in Clarksville, Tenn.

"We're playing better, we know each other a little bit better and we've got three guys in the starting lineup that weren't there earlier in the season," Purdue coach Doug Schreiber said.

Right fielder Daniel Underwood, third baseman John Gusich and catcher David Harrell have earned spots in the starting lineup and helped Purdue turn its season around after a 5-14 start.

"Obviously those guys make a big difference," Schreiber said.

Harrell came up with the biggest blow Wednesday, hitting a three-run double in a nine-run fourth inning as Purdue beat Illinois State 16-6 at Lambert Field.

"I go up just trying to hit the ball hard," said Harrell, the Big Ten co-player of the week for his game-winning hits in two of last weekend's wins. "Sometimes they fall and sometimes they don't. Lately they have been."

Harrell said people on the team have figured out their roles and that has led to the Boilers' success.

Purdue (20-15) won for the 16th time in 19 games. Illinois State (16-17) lost its second straight.

The big inning was the key as the Boilers turned a close game into a blowout. Kris Luce, John Gusich, Mitch Koester, Dave Blomberg and Nate Sickler had RBIs as Purdue batted 12 times in the fourth to take a 16-4 lead.

"Any time you score nine runs in an inning, that's going to bury the opponent," Schreiber said.

Schreiber said it was important that the Boilers followed the offensive onslaught with some solid defense.

Junior reliever Adam Green took care of that, pitching a 1-2-3 fifth inning that included his third and final strikeout of the game. Green picked up the win in relief of starter Sean O'Neil. The win was the first of Green's Purdue career. But it wasn't easy for the left-handed junior college transfer.

Green came into the game with the bases loaded and one out and Purdue up 4-2. He gave up a two-run single that tied the game at four and then gave up another hit before inducing third baseman Jon Peacock into an inning-ending double play.

"That's when they call on me is when they need me for a situation like that," Green said. "I'm not expecting a 10-run lead every time I go in. I'm expecting a close game and runners in scoring position."

Luke Howard, Ben Kaebisch, Dustin Glant, Daniel Hernandez and Billy Lester pitched the sixth through ninth innings to close the game.

"This definitely wasn't our sharpest game at all, but we tried to take the approach that this is a game to prepare us for the weekend," Schreiber said.

The Boilers, who own the best conference record in the Big Ten, travel to Champaign, Ill., this weekend for a four-game series with Illinois.

"We're not overconfident," Harrell said. "But we're definitely confident."

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Sports editor:
Paul Trembacki

Assistant sports editor:
Anne McLaren

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