May 11, 2013
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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- In another wild game that was not decided until the eighth inning, Purdue baseball's seventh error of the night led to a five-run rally for Michigan as the Wolverines took game two of the Big Ten series, 10-6, Saturday afternoon.The Boilermakers (16-30, 5-15 Big Ten) were held hitless through the first six innings only to score five times in the top of the seventh to tie the game, 5-5. But Purdue's seven errors, its most since also committing seven in a March 2010 loss at Missouri, ultimately doomed the comeback effort. The Boilers also left 13 runners on base, leaving the bases loaded in the seventh and ninth innings as well as the potential go-ahead run on third in the eighth.
Michigan (27-22, 12-8 Big Ten) had runners on second and third with no outs in the bottom of the eighth with the game still tied 5-5. Brad Schreiber took over on the mound and struck out the No. 7 hitter for the first out of the frame. The Wolverines went for a suicide squeeze bunt and Jack Sexton bunted a pop up near the mound. But Schreiber dropped the ball as he and first baseman Angelo Cianfrocco made contact. The go-ahead run scored on the play instead of it being an inning-ending double play. After another strikeout, a two-out RBI single, two-run homer and run-scoring balk blew the game open.
Michigan pitchers issued 10 walks on the day, including four during Purdue's five-run seventh inning. Freshman Evan Hill had walked six and struck out four over six hitless innings entering the frame. Singles from Brandon Krieg, Jack Picchiotti and Jake Hansen loaded the bases to ignite the rally. Jack Amaro delivered the big hit, a three-run double down the left field line. Three walks and an RBI ground out from Cianfrocco tied the game.
Friday, the Wolverines scored five times in the seventh inning to overcome a 6-3 deficit entering the frame.
The Boilermakers did not go quietly in the top of the ninth despite trailing 10-5. Singles from Johnson, Cianfrocco and Picchiotti along with a walk to Hansen helped Purdue score a run and bring the tying run to the plate. But Matt Ogden (7-1) got pinch hitter Conner Hudnall to pop out to shortstop to end the game.
Earlier, Ogden had struck out Kyle Bischoff with the bases loaded to end the seventh and Kyle Wood with runners on the corners to end the eighth. His eighth-inning K made up for a throwing error on a bunt attempt by Hansen that put the go-ahead run in scoring position. Sean McHugh delivered a two-out single to right field, but the ball was hit too well and the throw from right fielder Kevin White was too accurate to give Hansen a chance to score.
Purdue starter Jordan Minch (5-5) was a tough-luck loser after giving up only two earned runs over seven-plus innings. The lefty pitched over a one-out double to put up an important zero in the bottom of the seventh after the Boilers had tied the game. The freshman induced a pair of 4-6-3 double plays. But a leadoff walk and a slapper double over McHugh's head at third after the batter had shown bunt helped ignited Michigan's eighth-inning rally.
The Wolverines were unable to retire Johnson on the day. He walked three times, singled to lead off the ninth inning and also reached safely on a throwing error by the U-M third baseman.
The series finale is set for Sunday at 1 p.m.