April 2, 2013
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Purdue (10-15) lost to Butler (13-12) for the first time since 1995, snapping a nine-game win streak in the series. It was also the Bulldogs' first win in West Lafayette since 1983. The Boilermakers' midweek win streak dated back to March 2011.
The seven-run second inning marked the second-biggest rally of the season by a Purdue opponent. Butler sent 12 men to the plate in the frame, taking advantage of an error, four walks and a missed chance for a double play.
As the Boilers' third pitcher of the inning, Joe Eichmann finally brought the rally to an end. He went on to enjoy his best performance as a member of the program. The sophomore worked 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball, throwing over 100 pitches while striking out four and issuing only one walk. He worked four 1-2-3 innings and retired the final 11 batters he faced.
Purdue finally got on the board with a three-run fifth inning. Later, the Boilers had five consecutive batters reach base safely in the eighth inning but could only score one run. Gunner Johnson was able to retire Brandon Krieg on a grounder to third with the bases loaded to end the inning. Earlier in the frame, pinch runner Steve Maniago slipped while rounding third base on a double into the left field corner from Josh Estill. Instead of scoring easily, Maniago was tagged out for the second out of the inning before he could even attempt a slide at the plate.
Jack Picchiotti recorded his fourth consecutive two-hit game for Purdue, singling and scoring in the fifth inning and delivering a two-out RBI single to win a lefty-lefty matchup in the eighth. Estill also had a pair of hits.
Krieg, Jake Hansen and Jack Amaro each recorded an RBI in the bottom of the fifth inning, but they came on a fielder's choice, fielding error and sacrifice fly, respectively. Back-to-back singles from Kyle Johnson and Picchiotti along with a walk to Angelo Cianfrocco had loaded the bases with no outs.
The bottom of the fifth turned out to be Butler starter Kevin Lenkman's only poor inning of the night. The lefty struck out seven over six innings of four-hit ball. He gave up a one-out triple to Sean McHugh in the first inning, but did not allow the runner to score thanks to a key strikeout and an inning-ending grounder to shortstop.
With two aboard and no outs in the top of the second, Butler's Chris Marras executed a bunt looking to advance both runners. Purdue starter Eddie De LaRiva fielded and threw to third in time to cut down the lead runner. But McHugh did not catch the ball at third and all the runners were safe. The next batter hit a hard chopper to McHugh at third. After dropping the ball initially, he recovered in time to throw the batter out at first. But the ground ball was an excellent chance for a 5-2-3 or 5-4-3 double play. With still only one out in the frame, the next five Bulldogs reached base safely, making it a big inning.
Stephen Talbott and Wood both had to leave the game after sustaining injuries while they were batting. Talbott fouled a pitch off his leg in the third inning. Wood got hit by a pitch in the knee area in the eighth.
Purdue hosts Indiana State Wednesday at 6 p.m.