University of Minnesota Athletics
BB: Golden Gophers fall to Boilermakers
4/30/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
In the first game, Purdue struck first in the bottom of the opening frame. After Cole DeVries walked leadoff hitter Mitch Hilligoss, Mike Coles took one yard over the left field fence for his third homerun of the year. Purdue continued the threat as John Hunter hit his first double of the season down the first base line. After striking out Spencer Ingaldson, DeVries walked Neal Gorka, putting Boilermakers on first and second. But with the Boilermakers threatening to extend their lead, DeVries got Eric Osborn to fly out to Mike Mee to end the inning.
Things didn’t get easier for DeVries and the Gophers, as the first two Boilermaker hitters got aboard in the bottom of the second. After a Matt Fornasiere error loaded the bases, Coles hit a grounder to shortstop and reached on a fielder’s choice. Andy Dahl scored from third, making it a 3-0 Boilermaker lead.
Later in the same inning, with Tyler Heck on third and second base open, Coles attempted to steal. During the Jake Elder throw to second, Heck left third, trying to take home. Matt Fornasiere took Elder’s throw, relayed it back to home, and threw Heck out. Eric Wolfe subsequently grounded out to first, ending the second inning threat.
The Gophers got their bats going in the top of the third, starting with David Hrncirik’s single down the first base line. After a Tony Leseman groundout advanced Hrncirik to third, freshman Jeremy Chlan singled through the left side of a drawn-in infield, scoring Hrncirik, and notching his fourteenth RBI of the year
Purdue started off early in the bottom of the third, as Hunter hit his second double of the game. After DeVries struck out Ingaldson for the second time, Gorka hit a grounder to Chlan. With Hunter running as soon as the ball was hit, Chlan tried to throw him out at third, but threw the ball in the dirt, earning him an error. DeVries was able to get out of the inning unscathed, however, getting Eric Osborn to fly out to deep left field.
Purdue scored again in the bottom of the fourth. After Hilligoss singled, Coles hit his second triple of the season, posting his third RBI of the game. Eric Wolfe then hit a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Coles, and giving the Boilermakers a 5-1 lead. DeVries faced one more batter in the inning before Josh Oslin was brought in out of the bullpen.
The Boilermakers put another run on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth. After Eric Osborn walked and advanced to second on an Oslin wild pitch, Hilligoss singled to right center, for his sixteenth RBI of the season.
The Gophers still had some fight left in them, as Andy Hunter smacked his fourth homerun of the season, bringing Minnesota within four.
Purdue starter Mitch Pruemer, however, quickly put down the next two Gopher hitters, ending the game and earning him his fourth win of the season.
Pruemer had the Golden Gopher hitters baffled all game long, striking out five, allowing only four hits against 26 batters faced. This was Pruemer’s third complete game of the season.
Purdue’s Mike Coles went 2 for 4 with a homerun and a triple, driving in four runs.
In the second game, it was again all about the Purdue pitching. Purdue starter Brent Coudron was strong from the gate, rendering the Golden Gophers hitless through four innings. His no-hitter was broken up by Luke MacLean’s single into right field, but the Maroon & Gold weren’t able to put anything up on the board due to sound defensive play by the Boilermakers.
The Boilermakers scored first in the bottom half of the second inning. After a Hunter double, Gorka advanced Hunter to third on a single to right field. The very next batter, Eric Osborn, laid down a sacrifice bunt and Purdue took a 1-0 lead.
A one-out triple by Andy Dahl got things going for the Boilermakers in the bottom of the fifth. After Hilligoss squeaked a single past a diving David Hrncirik, Purdue took a 2-0 lead. Hilligoss was 2 for 3 in the second game.
The Boilermakers scored their third run in the bottom of the sixth. Eric Wolfe walked to start the inning, and advanced to second on a Hunter sacrifice bunt. After John Gaub was brought came in the game in relief, Eric Osborn singled up the middle, allowing Wolfe to score from second. The Boilermakers would go on to win the game, 3-0.
Brent Coudron pitched a complete game shutout, allowing just two hits in 24 batters faced. He struck out four in the effort, and brought his record to 3-3.
Minnesota will finish the four-game series against Purdue on Sunday, May 1, with a noon start time. The first hour of the game will be webcast on gophersports.com, and will be broadcast, in progress, on WMGT 1220 beginning at 1 p.m.
