Wednesday, April 26, 2006

Valparaiso saw its three-game winning streak against the Big Ten Conference come to an end on Wednesday afternoon as Purdue scored in every inning on the way to a 13-4 victory over the Crusaders in West Lafayette, Ind.

Valpo wasted little time getting on the scoreboard in the top of the first but the lead would be short lived. Michael Arensdorff (Park View, Iowa/North Scott H.S.) walked with one out and moved over to second on a ground out. Colin Reynolds (Crookston, Minn./Central H.S.) looped a single into left-center for a single to plate Arensdorff and give the Brown and Gold the early lead.

The Boilermakers tied it in the bottom of the frame as Eric Wolfe singled to score Mitch Hilligoss, who led off with a double. Purdue then took the lead in the second without a hit as Alex Jaffee led off with a walk, moved up on a groundout and wild pitch and scored on a second groundout.

Purdue's lead increased to 3-1 in the third as Neal Gorka's RBI single scored John Hunter, who was hit by the pitch with two outs and moved into scoring position on another Boilermaker hit. A three-run triple by John Cummins in the fourth followed by a wild pitch gave the Boilermakers a 7-1 lead. Ryne White drilled a homer to right with two outs in the inning as Purdue batted around in the fourth.

Miscommunication led to a Purdue run in the fifth as Cummins hit a soft fly to shallow centerfield that dropped between three Valpo fielders and scored Hilligoss. A single through the right side by Wolfe followed as the lead increased to nine.

The Crusaders found the scoreboard again in the sixth inning as Josh Piazza (Niles, Ill./Notre Dame H.S.) hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score Kevin Kutansky (Schererville, Ind./Munster H.S.), who led off the inning with a single.

Purdue added an unearned run in the sixth inning as Hilligoss singled to complete his 5-for-5 afternoon. Jaffee singled home a run in the seventh to keep the Boilermakers' streak of scoring in each inning going and Purdue added another unearned run in the eighth.

Valpo tacked on a pair of runs in the ninth on RBI singles by Matthew Augustine (Muskego, Wis./Muskego H.S.) and Arensdorff.

Mike Stankiewicz (Des Plaines, Ill./Maine West H.S.) started and suffered the loss (0-3) for the Crusaders, working three innings and allowing seven runs on eight hits. Allan Donato (2-0) earned the win for Purdue (22-15) as he went five innings allowing just one run and three hits.

Valparaiso (11-23) will return to the diamond on Saturday afternoon as the Crusaders host North Dakota State at Emory G. Bauer Field. First pitch of the doubleheader is set for noon and the games will be carried live on www.sportsjuice.com.