May 17, 2013
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Thursday's series opener wasn't decided until the 11th inning, won by the Hawkeyes (21-27, 9-14 Big Ten) thanks to a two-out RBI single. It marked the first time that the Boilermakers (17-33, 6-17 Big Ten) played in consecutive extra-innings game since May 2010 at Indiana. Iowa claimed its first series victory in West Lafayette since 2002.
McHugh connected for a pair of solo home runs en route to recording his third four-hit game as a Boiler. His two-out triple in the bottom of the ninth plated Jack Amaro as the game-tying run. McHugh became the first Purdue player since Cameron Perkins in May 2011 to record 10-plus total bases in a game. McHugh has gone deep three times in the last four games.
Trailing 5-3 entering the bottom of the ninth, Brandon Krieg's hustle double to left center as a pinch hitter ignited the rally. Amaro came through with a two-out RBI single to bring McHugh to the plate.
Iowa had given starting pitcher Sasha Kuebel the opportunity to finish off the game. But with McHugh having already homered twice against the lefty earlier, the Hawkeyes went to the bullpen following Amaro's RBI single. Reliever Nick Hibbing jumped ahead in the count against McHugh, but was not able to close out the game. The right-hander left a pitch over the middle of the plate and McHugh split the gap in right center for a game-tying triple.
A one-out walk and a hit-and-run single set the stage for Iowa's 10th-inning rally. Mike Lutz struck out Taylor Zeutenhorst for the second out of the inning. The Boilermakers went back to the bullpen, calling upon Brad Schreiber to get the final out of the frame.
Second baseman Cody Strong made a great diving stop on a grounder up the middle off the bat of Nick Roscetti, preventing the go-ahead run from scoring on the infield single. Schreiber and catcher Josh Estill thought they had struck out Nick Day on a slider on the inside corner. After it was called ball two, Day slapped a pitch down the right field line to clear the bases. Day also scored after Strong threw the ball into the seats while trying to cut down Day at third.
An outfield assist from right fielder Conner Hudnall as well as a couple big outs from Tim McElroy and Lutz out of the bullpen helped keep Purdue within striking distance in the ninth inning. Hudnall recorded his team-best sixth outfield assist when he threw out Iowa leadoff man Eric Toole at the plate to end the top of the ninth. Toole was already 5-for-5 on the night when he was hit by a pitch in the leg in the 10th inning. He was injured on the play and had to be carried off the field.
McHugh homered to lead off the fourth and eighth innings. He also singled with two outs in the fifth inning. The only out he made Friday came on a line drive double play to first base to end the bottom of the first.
Tied 2-2 in the top of the sixth, Iowa took the lead on an RBI fielder's choice with the bases loaded. Purdue thought it had turned an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play, but Zeutenhorst was called safe on close play at first base. After a pitching change, Roscetti followed with a two-run single to right field.
Purdue starter Jordan Minch struck out seven, one shy of his season high, over 5 2/3 innings. He had five Ks his first time through the lineup.
Saturday's series and season finale is set for 1 p.m.