Feb. 18, 2008

Big Ten Network ~ Free Purdue Boilermakers Video

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue Boilermakers baseball team is less than one week away from first pitch of the 2008 season, and the team is ready to respond to the challenge of overcoming a disappointing 2007 campaign and make a run at Big Ten and NCAA postseason play.

Beginning Saturday, Feb. 16, through Tuesday, Feb. 19, purduesports.com will preview each area of the Boilermakers' 2008 squad and the competition. Today we take a look at the Purdue pitchers and catchers.

BEHIND THE DISH
Purdue looks to replace two-year starter Spencer Ingaldson, a 2006 all-conference performer, and will look to redshirt junior Eric Nielsen to become the primary backstop. Nielsen has been a part-time starter over the past two seasons for the Boilermakers, including 19 starts in 2007. In 58 at-bats last season Nielsen hit at an impressive .397 clip, success at the plate that is hoped to be continued.

Depth behind the plate will be provided by a trio that has been introduced at other positions for the Boilermakers. Senior Jordan Comadena, sophomore Dan Black and freshman Cory Bifoss can each provide rest for Nielsen. All three have been listed as a catcher since arriving at Purdue, although none has seen game action behind the plate for the Boilermakers.

ON THE HILL
From Day One to the final pitch of the 2007 season, the Purdue starting pitching rotation underwent several changes, settling at the end of the season with three freshmen and a senior as the primary four. That lone senior, Ricky Heines, has walked the graduation stage at Purdue and now serves the program as the volunteer assistant coach. It is the three freshmen - now sophomores - that the Boilermakers will look to for guidance.

Leading the charge on the hill is Matt Bischoff, the 2007 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and a second team all-conference honoree. Bischoff made his way from mid-relief to midweek starter to Friday night ace during his first collegiate season, ending the campaign with a 3-2 record and a team-best 2.85 earned-run average. His 61 strikeouts in 60 innings against just eight walks gave him the best strikeout-to-walk ration in Purdue history - fanning 7.625 batters per free pass.

Tony Sedlmeyer, a sophomore, was in the starting rotation in his first collegiate weekend and remained there through the entirity of the 2007 season. A third team all-conference selection, Sedlmeyer posted a 6-4 record and a 4.34 ERA in 12 starts. Matt Jansen fills out the sophomore trio, working his way a year ago into the starting rotation midway through the Big Ten portion of the schedule. Despite going winless with a 0-4 record, Jansen was solid on the hill for Purdue, posting a 3.31 ERA in 17 games (three starts).

Purdue could find its fourth weekend starter in a familiar face, as senior Allan Donato could make the move from the bullpen to the starting hill after three seasons. Donato has appeared in 45 games in three years, eight as a midweek starter, and has posted a career record of 6-3 with a 5.40 ERA.

The main arm out of the pen for Purdue will likely be Josh Lindblom, the Boilermakers' starter-turned-closer in 2007. Lindblom, a junior, was 3-4 with a save and a 4.13 ERA last season, but was as close to perfect as a pitcher can be when coming out of the bullpen. After a move to the pen midway through the Big Ten season, Lindblom appeared in eight games as a reliever with a 0.00 ERA, yielding just six hits while striking out 10 in 11 innings. Lindblom brings an imposing stature to the Purdue mound, standing 6'5" and 240 pounds, while bringing a 95 mph fastball.

The pitching staff features six additional returning letterwinners: seniors Andy Loomis and Tristan McIntyre; junior Chris Ivanic; and sophomores Kevin Cahill, Connor Sestak and Drew Wurdack. Further depth to the staff will be provided by seven Boilermakers making their debut in 2008: redshirts Nick Bryant, Matt Morgan and Jeff Straub; and true freshmen Kyle Cook, Mark Kovacevic, Kasey Ourada and Michael Thoma.

Purdue Baseball Preview
Feb. 16 -- Around the Horn... The Purdue Infield
Feb. 17 -- On The Warning Track... The Purdue Outfield
Feb. 18 -- The Battery... The Purdue Pitchers & Catchers
Feb. 19 -- Across the Diamond... The Purdue Schedule

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