Purdue Fort Wayne
South Dakota State
Mastodons Drop Four Game Series at South Dakota State
5/13/2007 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
May 13, 2007
Brookings, SD - The IPFW baseball team will regroup and try to figure out how to beat South Dakota State before the two meet next year as members of the Mid-Continent Conference. This season, the Jackrabbits had the 'Dons number, winning all eight meetings with IPFW.
The Mastodons had their best chance of topping the Jacks in game one of today's double header at Bob Sheldon Field, but fell 8-7 in 11 innings. SDSU had no trouble with the 'Dons in the night cap, winning 10-3.
IPFW stormed out of the gate in the opening frame of game one. IPFW scored five times in the first on RBI singles by junior center fielder Jared Davis and freshman third baseman Jason Doerffler, an RBI ground out by junior left fielder Aaron Kerns, and a two-run single from the bat of senior right fielder Nick Diem.
SDSU got a pair back in their half of the inning, one driven in by junior left fielder Craig Parry.
The Jacks pulled to within 5-3 on an RBI double in the 3rd inning by junior right fielder Nick Adams. Adams would be a central figure in this one.
IPFW pushed two more runs across in the 4th inning on an RBI single by freshman first baseman Shaun VanDriessche and a Diem ground out.
There would be no more scoring until the bottom of the eighth. With runners on first and second, IPFW head coach Billy Gernon lifted sophomore starter Donnie Sixt. Unfortunately for the 'Dons, the move back fired as Adams greeted reliever Stacy Herrold with a 3-run home run to left center, making it 7-6.
In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Jackrabbits took advantage of a pair of wild pitches to tie it and send the contest into extra innings.
Junior center fielder Tim Hanigan led off the 11th inning with a double. He advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored the game winner on a single by junior second bagger Korby Mintken.
VanDriessche was the hitting star for IPFW in game one with a 4 for 6 game. Davis was 3 for 6, and Nichting and Diem each had a pair of base hits. Diem drove in three runs.
Adams was 3-5 with five RBI.
Herrold took the loss for IPFW.
Kevin Morsching pitched two scoreless innings of one-hit ball for the win.
The 3:08 minute affair took the wind out of the sails of the 'Dons in game two.
South Dakota State greeted game two starter Matt Antos with three runs, chasing him after two-thirds of an inning.
IPFW got a pair back in the top of the 3rd inning on a fielder's choice and a VanDriessche RBI single.
The Jacks would out-score the 'Dons 6-1 the rest of the way to win 10-3.
SDSU sophomore catcher Tony Martin did most of the damage for the Jackrabbits in game two, going 3-3 and driving in five runs.
Antos took the loss for the Mastodons, while Kirby Morsching tossed five innings, giving up just two runs for the win.
South Dakota State improves to 29-18 with the four-game weekend sweep.
IPFW falls to 9-36.
The Mastodons make the long trip back home to finish the 2007 season on Tuesday, hosting Ball State at Mastodon Field at 3:00pm.
~Dons~
