March 3, 2013
Boxscore: HTML | PDF >>> Series vs Samford: Weekend | Season
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. -- The hit totals were nearly even for both teams in a game that featured 27 hits total, but Samford was able to score multiple runs in an inning four times to defeat Purdue baseball, 13-6, and complete a three-game series sweep Sunday afternoon.The Boilermakers (3-8) have lost six straight, their longest losing streak since starting the 2008 season 0-9. Purdue suffered its first series sweep since May 2011 at Michigan State and its first sweep against a nonconference opponent since March 2009 at Texas State.
Samford (8-5) also won the season series with the Boilers, four games to one, while improving to 7-1 at home this year.
Brandon Krieg connected for a two-run homer, his first collegiate long ball, to left field in the fifth inning to make it a one-run game at 4-3. But the Bulldogs answered with a two-run shot from C.K. Irby in the bottom of the frame and went on to score in each of the final four innings in which they batted.
Sean McHugh posted his first collegiate four-hit game, finishing only a home run shy of the cycle. He tripled home Conner Hudnall to give Purdue a 1-0 lead in the third inning.
But Samford answered with the first of its two four-run innings in the bottom of the third. There were three run-scoring hits during the rally after a single from the nine-hole hitter and a walk to the leadoff man set the stage for the big inning.
After seven relievers teamed up to help keep Purdue in the game against Samford last Sunday in Starkville, the bullpen did not provide much relief on this day. The Bulldogs scored seven times on six hits and four walks against five Purdue relievers over 3 1/3 innings.
Lefty Cody Webster made his team debut, working the eighth inning. Also the punter on the Purdue football team, Webster officially became the first student-athlete to play football and baseball for the Boilers since Travis Dorsch in 2000.
Webster struck out Samford's top player, cleanup hitter Phillip Ervin, in the eighth inning. But the Bulldogs scored their final run of the day while he was on the mound thanks to a two-out single.
Freshman Cody Strong made his first start as a Boiler Sunday, singling in his first two at-bats and drawing a walk in the ninth inning. Jake Hansen and McHugh recorded RBI singles on the day, but Purdue was able to score multiple runs in an inning only once. The Boilermakers got back-to-back singles from McHugh and Angelo Cianfrocco after Krieg's two-run homer in the fifth, but an inning-ending double play extinguished a continued rally.
Purdue starter Robert Ramer (1-1) gave up six runs on eight hits over 4 2/3 innings, suffering only the second loss of his career in 16 decisions.
The Boilermakers return to action Friday when they open a three-game weekend series Friday at Illinois-Chicago. First pitch is slated for 5 p.m. ET. Purdue is also slated to play the Flames five times this year.