Baseball Drops Conference Twinbill to South Dakota State

Saturday, April 10

Fort Wayne, Ind.

12:30 PM

Purdue Fort Wayne

4-23, 0

South Dakota State

15-9, 0

South Dakota State

IPFW

Baseball Drops Conference Twinbill to South Dakota State

4/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

April 10, 2010

Game 1 | Game 2

Fort Wayne, IN - Giving up big innings has been a killer for IPFW in their conference series opener with South Dakota State. The Jackrabbits rode those big innings to a 17-5, 10-8 sweep over IPFW on Saturday afternoon at Mastodon Field.

In Game 1, IPFW jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the 2nd inning on a three-run homer by junior catcher Brendan Landwehr. 

But it all fell apart for the 'Dons in the 5th inning.  South Dakota State (16-9, 3-0 SL) sent 18 batters to plate, scoring 12 runs to blow the game wide open.  Shortstop Eric Cain blasted his 8th homer of the season, a three-run shot.

IPFW got two back in the bottom of the eighth on a two-run homer by Cody Galbraith, his second of the season, but surrendered five more in the top of the 9th inning to lose by 12. 

SDSU starter Stephen Bougher got the win (1-1).  He went 7.0 innings, giving up three runs (all earned) on four hits.  He struck out five and didn't issue a free pass.

IPFW starter Ryan August took the loss (0-6).  August was pulled after 4.1 innings.  He gave up eight runs (seven earned) on seven hits.  He fanned and walked three.

In game two, the Mastodons fell behind, 3-0 in the 1st inning but roared back in the bottom of the frame.

Third baseman Shaun VanDriessche tied the game with one swing of the bat.  His team-leading 9th homer of the year, a three-run shot knotted it at three.  But the 'Dons weren't done in the inning.  Right fielder Daren Boss stroked an RBI double to left center that scored Galbraith all the way from first.  Landwehr would cap off the six-run first inning for the Mastodons with his second homer of the twinbill, a two-run blast to dead center.

The Jacks got the longball working in the top of the 2nd inning.  Right fielder John Lee tied the game with a three-run shot of his own out of right field.

In the bottom of the second, the 'Dons regained the lead on a two-run single by DH Cory Miller.

Leading 8-6, IPFW starter Matt Antos began to settle in.  He retired nine straight Jackrabbits until SDSU mounted a charge in the 5th inning.

After striking out the leadoff hitter, Antos defense let him down.  An error allowed Lee to reach second.  Then after plating a pair, the Jackrabbits got the knockout blow, a two-run homer by catcher Zach Briggs that gave the Jacks a 10-8 lead.

IPFW got runners on in the 6th and 7th innings but couldn't capitalize, falling by two.

SDSU reliever Alex Oberle picked up the win (3-1) tossing 4.0 innings of shutout ball.  He gave up four hits and fanned four.  Trever Vermeulen came on to work 2.0 innings for his fifth save of the season.

Antos took the loss (0-4).  He went 8.0 innings giving up all 10 runs (nine earned) on 8 hits.  He struck out seven and walked three.

With the sweep, IPFW falls to 4-24 and 0-3 SL on the year.  The final game of the series will be Sunday at Mastodon Field.  Game time is 1:00 p.m.

~Dons~