March 19, 2010

Final Stats

ATHENS, Ohio-Purdue catcher Peyton Bieker and third baseman Cameron Perkins drove in two runs apiece, while Boilermaker starter Matt Bischoff gave a solid performance on the mound to give the visitors a 7-4 win over Ohio Friday afternoon at Bob Wren Stadium.

Purdue improved to 5-8 overall, while Ohio dropped to 2-12.

Due to inclement weather in the forecast for Sunday, the two teams have opted to complete the series by playing a doubleheader on Saturday, beginning at 1 p.m. ET.

Boiler left fielder Tyler Spillner had three hits, while Bieker and shortstop Nick Overmyer had a pair of hits. Overmyer and second baseman Eric Charles also scored two runs apiece.

Ohio catcher Kris McDonough knocked in two and third baseman Bryan Barnes added three hits (two doubles), while designated hitter Seth Streich added two as well. Preseason All-American center fielder Gauntlett Eldemire scored two runs.

Bischoff (3-1) got the win by giving Purdue six strong innings on the hill, allowing three runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and just one walk. Closer Calvin Gunter nailed down his third save by tossing the game’s last one and two-thirds innings, where he surrendered nothing, while striking out two Bobcats. Ohio starter Bryce Butt (0-4) started out strong, but suffered the loss after allowing five runs on 10 hits in five and one-third innings, with four strikeouts and no walks.

“We got beat by a pitcher who was just better than us today,” said Ohio head coach Joe Carbone of Purdue’s Bischoff. “We’re making strides in terms of our team progress, but we’re still giving up more runs than the opposition deserves in the field.”

Barnes got Ohio on the board first with a run-scoring double to left center, sending home shortstop Wesley O’Neill, who was hit by a 1-0 Bischoff offering to lead off the inning.

Purdue tied the game in the fourth inning and took a commanding 5-1 lead with four more in the sixth. The Bobcats sprang to life with two in the bottom half of that inning. McDonough had the big hit with a bases-loaded single to left, scoring Barnes and Eldemire, who both singled in the earlier stages of the inning.

Purdue’s last two runs came with one each in the seventh and ninth frames, while Ohio’s last tally came in the eighth when Streich knocked in Eldemire with a single to center.

Ohio turned three double plays during the game, while Purdue had one.

Eldemire swiped his fifth base of the season in the eighth inning.