Buckeyes Cannot Hold On After Comeback, Fall to Purdue 5-4 – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 10, 2004
Box Score
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Ohio State scored two runs to tie the game in the top of the seventh inning, but gave up a bases-loaded walk to lose a 5-4 decision to Purdue in the first game of a doubleheader Saturday at Lambert Field. With the loss, the Buckeyes dropped to 12-12 on the season and 4-2 in the Big Ten, while the Boilermakers improved to 12-13 and 3-3.
First baseman Paul Farinacci (Jr., Westlake Village, Calif./Agoura) led off the seventh inning with his first home run of the season. The shot cleared the fence in left field and pulled the Buckeyes within one run, 4-3.
Mike Rabin (Jr., West Chester, Ohio/Lakota East) singled to left-center, but Dauby got a fly out and a pop out to keep Rabin at first with two outs, but a single by Steve Caravati (Jr., Dover, Ohio/Dover) singled to left-center to put runners at first and second for Stephen. Stephen came up big, singling to left field to score Rabin from second but a throw from leftfeilder Mitch Hilligoss threw to shortstop Mitch Koester for the out at third out of the inning. That tied the score 4-4 forcing the Boilermakers to bat in the bottom of the seventh.
Purdue leftfielder Mitch Hilligoss led off with a single to right-center field bringing an end to the day of OSU starter Mike Madsen (Jr., Chesterland, Ohio/Notre Dame Cathedral Latin) as the Buckeyes brought in Jeffrey Carroll (Fr., Columbus, Ohio/Bishop Watterson), who tagged out catcher Ben Fritz on a sacrifice bunt that moved Hilligoss to second. Carroll intentionally walked designated hitter John Hunter, who had three hits in his previous at bats.
Caravati made a run-saving throw to nab Hilligoss at the plate on a single to left field by Eric Wolfe. Carroll hit third baseman Simon Klink to load the bases and then walked Eric Osborn, the winning run.
Carroll fell to 0-1 with the loss, while Trae Dauby picked up the win to improve to 3-0 in two innings of work despite allowing the two Buckeye runs in the top of the seventh.
Hunter finished 3-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored, while Hilligoss was 2-for-3 with one run scored to lead the Boilermakers. Rabin was 2-for-3 and both Jacob Howell (Fr., Ashland, Ohio/Ashland) and Jedidiah Stephen (So., Caldwell, Ohio/Shenandoah) were 2-for-4.
Purdue centerfielder Mike Coles got things starter leading off the bottom of the first inning with a single up the middle. Third baseman Mitch Hilligoss reached on a fielder’s choice bunt sacrifice as Coles beat out the throw from Madsen to reach second. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch before a Madsen strikeout for the first out of the inning. Designated hitter John Hunter doubled in both runners and then Simon Klink doubled off the wall in center field to score Hunter and give the Boilermakers a 3-0 lead.
Another Purdue run crossed the plate in the third inning. Hunter singled to left-center field with one out, moved to second on a ground out and to third on a wild pitch before second baseman Eric Osborn singled to shallow center field to bring in Hunter and put the Boilermakers on top 4-0.
The Buckeyes finally plated a pair of runs in the top of the fourth inning to pull within a 4-2 score. Designated hitter Cody Caughenbaugh (So., Newark, Ohio/Licking Valley) drew a one-out walk and then catcher Adam Schneider (Fr., Agoura Hills, Calif./Agoura) sent his first career home run over the fence in left field.
Stephen led off the sixth with a base hit to center field to prompt a pitching change. Purdue brought in right-handed pitcher Trae Dauby, who retired the next three batters to prevent any scoring threat by the Buckeyes.
Ohio State and Purdue finish the doubleheader Saturday before concluding the series Sunday with a single game at 2 p.m.
