.png&width=32&height=32&type=webp)
Purdue Fort Wayne
South Dakota State
Jackrabbits Pull Away Late to Sweep Series
4/11/2010 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 11, 2010
Fort Wayne, IN - South Dakota State scored four times in the top of the eighth inning to take the series finale against IPFW, 7-4 on Sunday afternoon at Mastodon Field.
The four-run outburst spoiled a solid outing by IPFW starter Lucas Kesterson.
South Dakota State went in order in the first and second innings but got on the scoreboard in the third. Back-to-back singles by catcher Zach Briggs and designated hitter Daniel Telford set up a big inning for the Jacks. Centerfielder Billy Stitz would make it 2-0 with an RBI single up the middle. SDSU capped off the inning by getting another RBI single by first baseman Joel Blake making it 3-0.
The score stayed that way until the bottom of the fourth. IPFW center fielder Kurt Dudley was hit by a pitch to open the frame. He would advance to second on a single by designated hitter Cory Miller. Two batters later, they would both cross the plate as third baseman Shaun VanDriessche doubled down the left field line drawing the 'Dons to with one.
IPFW would tie the score in the bottom of the 5th inning as Miller singled to right field scoring Garrett Segraves.
The game remained knotted at three until the top of the 8th inning. SDSU left fielder Beau Hanowski led off with a single through the left side of the IPFW infield. Joel Blake then hit what looked to be a tailor-made double play ball, but the Mastodons could not handle it, putting runners on first and second. Kesterson struck out the next batter and should have been out of the inning, but because of the infield error on Blake's grounder John Lee was able to step to the plate. Lee lashed an RBI single up the middle. Shortstop Eric Cain followed with an RBI base knock of his own and Kesterson's day was done.
Leading 5-3, South Dakota State (17-9, 4-0 SL) put the final nail in the coffin with a two-run single by pinch hitter Zach Rhodes.
IPFW had two more cracks at the Jackrabbits late but couldn't convert, falling by those four 8th inning runs.
Kesterson was the tough luck loser. He went 7.1 innings. He was charged with all seven runs, but only four were earned. He struck out five and didn't walk a batter. Reliever Matt Ransbottom pitched an inning and two-thirds giving up just the Rhodes single. He struck out one.
SDSU reliever Trever Vermeulen pitched the final two innings of the game for the win (5-1). He gave up just two hits.
Shaun VanDriessche was 2-4 in the game for IPFW with 2 RBI. Cory Miller was also 2-4.
With the loss, the 'Dons fall to 4-25 and 0-4 in conference play. The mid-week game at Notre Dame next week has been cancelled so the Mastodons next action will come on Friday at Western Illinois.
~Dons~
