BAYLOR BASEBALL EDGES PURDUE 2-1

WACO, TEXAS (February 23, 2008) Landis Ware’s two-run home run provided the offense, and Kendal Volz struck out 10 as No. 15 Baylor defeated Purdue 2-1 in Friday night’s 2008 season opener at Baylor Ballpark. This was the first-ever meeting between the Bears (1-0) and the Boilermakers (0-1) in baseball. It came in the Bears’ 300th game at Baylor Ballpark.

Ware, who earned the start at second base only because 2007 Freshman All-American Raynor Campbell is out with an injury, made good use of the opportunity, going 2-for-3 on the night. He doubled down the right-field line in his first at bat to lead off the third inning, but it was his seventh-inning at bat that decided the game. Paul Miles drew a two-out walk and stole second. On the next pitch, Ware turned on an inside fastball for the game-deciding home run.

Meanwhile, Volz (1-0) produced the second double-digit strikeout performance of his career. He punched out 13 batters against Oklahoma in last year’s Big 12 Conference Championship. Volz, who did not allow a hit until the fourth, scattered four hits in 8.0 scoreless innings with two walks.

On a cold, dry night, both teams struggled to get much offense going. Purdue’s Brandon Haveman drew a one-out walk in the first but was stranded after stealing second. That was the Boilermaker’s only base runner until Ryne White’s one-out single in the fourth. Dan Black followed with another single, but both he and White were stranded. Eric Nielsen got a two-out single in the fifth and was stranded, while White singled in the sixth but was thrown out trying to steal.

Ben Booker and Aaron Miller drew first-inning walks but were stranded. Ware’s leadoff double in the third provided the Bears’ only base runner until Paul Miles’ one-out double in the fifth but neither scored. Miller collected singles in the sixth and eighth innings but was stranded both times.

Purdue got on the scoreboard in the ninth thanks to White’s heads-up running. After drawing a leadoff walk, White advanced to third base on Black’s hit-and-run ground-out to second. Pinch-hitter Jonathan Lilly followed with a sacrifice fly, but Nick Cassavechia induced a game-ending groundout off the bat of pinch-hitter Drew Madia.

It was the 20th save of Cassavechia’s career; that moves him into sole possession of second place on Baylor’s all-time list.

Baylor and Purdue continue their three-game weekend series Saturday at 3 p.m. CST. The Bears send redshirt freshman Shawn Tolleson to the mound for his first career start. The Boilermakers counter with southpaw Matt Jansen (0-4, 3.31 ERA in 2007).