Feb. 26, 2001

Box Score

The Purdue baseball team rebounded from two earlier losses this weekend with a 2-1 victory over Austin Peay. The Boilermakers were backed by solid defensive play and an impressive pitching performance by Chadd Blasko.

Blasko did not allow a hit through the first three innings and did not allow a runner past second base until the seventh inning. He retired the side through the first five innings and finished the game with 7.1 innings pitched, eight hits, three strikeouts and just one earned run.

The Boilermakers scored both their runs in the first inning. Dave Blomberg led the game off with a base hit. He was called out at second on a questionable call, as Mike Duursma reached first base on a fielder's choice bunt. Nick McIntyre came to the plate and singled to left field, advancing Duursma to second. After Kris Luce was hit by a pitch, loading the bases, David Harrell drove in McIntyre and Duursma with a base hit. Harrell made his first start of the season for the Boilermakers, batting sixth at the designated hitter spot.

The Boilermakers shutout the Governors through the next 7.1 innings. Blasko struck out two batters in the first and one in the sixth while the infield turned double plays in the second and third innings. Elsewhere defensively, McIntyre gunned out two runners attempting to steal bases. In the middle infield, Duursma assisted on three plays while Blomberg assisted on four. Centerfielder Nate Sickler made a key play in the seventh inning when he threw out Scott Kluesner at home, who tried to score from second base. Kluesner led off the inning with a double, then tried to advance home on an A.J. Ellis single to centerfield. Sickler was also an offensive hero, knocking two doubles on the day.

After a Frank Kunich home run, narrowing the Boilermaker lead to 2-1, Blasko was relieved by Sean O'Neil, who pitched the final 1.2 innings to clinch the victory. For Blasko, it was his first victory of the season and fifth of his career.

The Boilermakers return to action next weekend when they travel to Dothan, Alabama, where they will face Troy State (March 2), Vanderbilt (March 3) and St. John's (March 4).

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