IU drops 3 of 4 in series with Purdue

The IU baseball team scored 20 runs in its weekend series against Purdue, but it only managed to win one of four games in West Lafayette.\nEntering the game, the Hoosiers had been experiencing a slump on offense, while the pitching staff put forth solid performances throughout the season. \nBut this weekend it was the pitching staff that faltered, giving up double digits in runs twice during the series.\n“It’s obviously very frustrating,” junior infielder Jon Fixler said, “but you just have to keep on going, because we have a game Tuesday against Indiana State and we’re going to come out ready for that one.”\nThe Hoosiers (14-17, 4-8) began their weekend series with a 4-2 loss Friday. In the top of the third inning, sophomore right fielder Chris Hervey gave the Hoosiers an early 1-0 lead with his first home run of the season. \nIn the bottom of the sixth inning, Purdue began a rally on sophomore starting pitcher Tyler Tufts and eventually won 4-2. \nWhile IU had trouble holding onto its lead in the opening contest, Game 2 proved to be a different story.\nAfter scoring three runs in the top of the first inning, the Hoosiers had to finish play Sunday because the game was postponed due to rain. \nThe IU offense carried its momentum to an 11-3 victory, with one home run each coming from sophomore center fielder Andrew Means and senior first baseman Michael Nilles.\n“We’re definitely starting to swing the bat like we know we can,” Means said. “We know we can hit the ball very well, and once we start hitting like we’re supposed to, we should be on the right track.”\nYet as soon as the Hoosiers’ offense exploded, it dissipated just as quickly.\nFreshman starting pitcher Jason Ferrell lasted only two-thirds of an inning as the Purdue offense ran off 10 runs in the opening inning of game three. Ferrell allowed the first seven runs. \nIU was unable to overcome the early 10-run deficit, losing 13-0. \nIn the final Sunday game, the Hoosiers found their offense once again but lost 11-7.\nIU took a 3-1 lead into the bottom of the fifth, only to see the Boilermakers go on a four-run, two-out rally to take a 5-3 lead. In the following inning, Fixler hit a two-run home run to tie the game at 5-5. \nIn the top of the seventh the Hoosiers added two more runs, but Purdue tied it again.\nIU starting pitcher Doug Fleenor unraveled in the eighth and gave up five runs and the lead.\nThe Hoosiers eventually lost the game 11-7, and Purdue took three of the four games in the series. \n“We battled a little bit more this weekend,” IU coach Tracy Smith said. “We’ve just got to make plays when the game counts. That’s what it comes down to.”