University of Minnesota Athletics
BB: Gophers Drop Series Finale to Boilermakers, 7-3
5/1/2005 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
In the top of the first inning, third baseman David Hrncirik reached on an infield hit. Mike Mee then grounded out to the Boilermaker pitcher, allowing Hrncirik to take second. After a Dan Sattler balk advanced Hrncirik to third, Jake Elder took a 2-0 pitch to left- center field for his sixth double of the season, scoring Hrncirik from third.
In the bottom of the first, two Golden Gopher errors allowed Purdue runners at second and third with one out. Freshman right hander Dustin Brabender kept his composure, however, getting the next two Boilermaker batters to pop-out and ground-out, ending the Purdue threat.
Brabender got the Gophers out of another jam in the bottom of the second inning. After Andy Dahl walked, he stole second and then advanced to third after Elder’s throw dribbled into the outfield. But Brabender quickly ended the Boilermaker rally, getting Tyler Heck to strike out swinging.
With one out in the top of the fourth, Taylor VanderArdee hit a solo shot over the left field wall, giving the Golden Gophers a 2-0 lead. That was all the Gophers would get in the inning, as Purdue ended the Gopher rally with their second 6-4-3 double play of the game.
Brabender kept the Boilermakers hitless until Spencer Ingladson singled up the middle in the bottom of the fourth. After a walk and another Purdue hit, the bases were full of Boilermakers with two outs. Brabender again got the Gophers out of the jam, coming back from a 1-0 count and striking out Heck.
Brabender’s shutout was ended in the bottom of the fifth inning. After Eric Wolfe singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch, Purdue catcher John Hunter drove him home with a two-out single to left center. That was all the damage Purdue would do in the inning, as Brabender retired the next batter.
The Gophers recorded their third run in the top of the sixth inning, thanks to sloppy fielding by the Boilermakers. Andy Hunter reached on a John Hunter error, then advanced to second on a Luke MacLean sacrifice bunt. Hunter was able to advance to third on a fielder’s choice and scored after Taylor VanderArdee singled, marking VanderArdee's fifth RBI of the season.
Purdue made a run in the bottom half of the inning, scoring two runs on three hits. Purdue right fielder Neal Gorka started the inning off with an infield single. After Eric Osborn was hit by a Brabender pitch, reigning Big Ten Pitcher of the Week, John Gaub, was brought in. Heck then singled to left center, scoring Gorka from second. This was followed by a Mitch Hilligoss single that scored Osborn from second, tying the score at 3-3.
The Boilermakers broke things open in the bottom of the eighth. Dahl reached on the fifth Gopher error of the game, then scored from first on a Hilligoss double. Mike Coles then singled to right, scoring Hilligoss from second, giving Purdue a 5-3 lead.
Things didn’t get better for the Gophers after Jon Mueller was brought out of the bullpen in relief. The first batter he faced, Boilermaker third baseman Hunter, hit a bases clearing double to right center, giving the Boilermakers a 7-3 lead. Mueller would, however, strike out Ingaldson to end the inning.
Despite the no-decision, Brabender arguably had his most solid outings of the season. He struck out five, and allowed three earned runs in five innings of work.
VanderArdee went 2 for 2 with a homerun, a single and 2 RBI.
Purdue right hander Chris Toneguzzi picked up the win, improving his record to 1-2, while Golden Gopher Luke Beresford took the loss, his record now1-2.
The Gophers return to the friendly confines of Siebert Field to take on the North Dakota State Bison on Tuesday, May 3. The game will not be broadcast locally.
