May 17, 2001
After rain delays suspended Purdue's first round game with Illinois, play was resumed on Thursday morning in Columbus, as the Fighing Illini defeated Purdue 9-5. Andy Dickinson gets the win for Illinois, while Ben Quick gets the loss.
Purdue trailed 4-1 with two outs in the top of the fifth inning, with a runner at first base, as play resumed at 8:59 CST this morning. Starter Quick did not see action today, as senior Daniel Hernandez came on in relief. Hernandez pitched the next inning and two-thirds, giving up four earned runs. He got the final out of the fifth, getting Patrick Arlis to fly out to left,before surrendering one run in the sixth, and three in the seventh thanks to a three-run home run by Luke Simmons. Hernandez was relieved by Ohio native Luke Howard, who pitched the rest of the game, and gave up one more run. Howard struck out two batters and gave up just three hits in 2.2 innings of work.
The Boilermakers fought back with one in the bottom of the seventh and three in the bottom of the eighth. Nate Sickler led off the seventh with a single, then later scored on a Brad Kriner ground out. In the eighth, Daniel Underwood led off with a single, then advanced to second as Dave Blomberg singled through to the left side. Underwood scored on a Nick McIntyre base hit, narrowing the Illinois lead to 8-3. David Harrell then loaded the bases with the Boilermakers' fourth consecutive single, advancing McIntyre to second and Blomberg to third. With no outs, Sickler drove in Blomberg on a sacrifice fly as McIntyre advanced to third. McIntyre scored on Kris Luce's second sacrifice fly of the game.
Dickinson went the distance for Illinois, despite giving up the three runs in the seventh.
Purdue now awaits the loser of the Ohio State-Michigan game, which is currently being played. After three innings of play, Ohio State leads Michigan 4-1, meaning the Boilermakers would likely play Michigan in a 2:30 CST start later this afternoon. Should Purdue win that contest, they will meet the loser of the Minnesota-Illinois contest on Friday at 7 p.m. A Purdue loss in this afternoon's game would be the Boilermakers' final game of the tournament.