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CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas -- Despite collecting just one hit in the game, Purdue baseball had a pair of excellent chances to tie it up or even take the lead in the sixth and seventh innings, but a triple play helped Missouri hold on for a 1-0 victory Sunday afternoon at the Kleberg Bank College Classic.
The Boilermakers (3-4) lost in 1-0 fashion for the first time since the 2011 season finale against Minnesota at the Big Ten Tournament. The Tigers (7-1) have allowed only 12 runs in their first eight games this season and finished 3-1 to win the tournament this weekend by surrendering only four runs.
Purdue went 2-2 in Corpus Christi after sweeping Saturday's doubleheader against Sam Houston State. Kyle Wood, Brandon Krieg, Michael Vilardo & Matt Gibbs were named to the All-Tournament Team.
Trailing 1-0, two hit batters and a Krieg singled loaded the bases for the Boilers with no outs in the sixth inning. Justin Gubser swung at the first pitch and hit a ground ball to third base. Missouri's Josh Lester threw home to cut down the lead runner. Catcher Jack Klages hesitated for a moment before deciding to go for the double play at first. Gubser was called out on a close play. Krieg tried to score from second on the play but was tagged out at the plate for the third and final out.
Klages recorded two put outs and a defensive assist on the unconventional 5-2-3-2 triple play.
Missouri scored the game's only run in the third inning on a two-out single from cleanup hitter Ryan Howard. It was the third of three singles in the frame.
Krieg's single in the sixth inning not only broke up Alec Rash's no-hit bid but also chased the junior righthander from the game. The Purdue senior extended his reached base safely streak to 26 consecutive games dating back to April of last season. He has hit safely in each of the first seven games this year.
Shane Bryant's four innings of two-hit relief highlighted the day on the mound for the Boilers. The junior retired 11 of the 13 batters he faced, including each of the first seven. Purdue had not posted a 1-2-3 inning until Bryant took the game in the sixth. The Tigers had three runners cut down on the base paths either trying to steal or attempting to stretch a single into a double.
The Boilermakers only struck out twice in the game but were unable to find any holes on the numerous balls they put in play. The situational hitting was also poor Sunday. Purdue had runners on second and third with one out in the seventh inning and failed to score.
Wood walked three times on the day, including a leadoff walk in the second inning. He stole second base but the Boilers were unable to move him to third base with less than two outs.
Seven of Purdue's eight base runners came via free passes. Vilardo and Kyle Johnson were hit by a pitch before and after Krieg's single in the sixth.
Mizzou reliever Andrew Schwaab replaced Rash on the mound in the sixth inning and promptly plunked Johnson to load the bases. He retired only two of the five batters he faced but was still credited with an inning and a third of hitless relief after the triple play quickly brought the bottom of the sixth to a close.
Austin Tribby won lefty-lefty matchups with Jack Picchiotti and Harry Shipley to strand runners on second and third in the seventh inning. With one out and the tying run on third, Picchiotti hit a fly ball down the left field line but it was not deep enough to plate Wood.
Purdue starter Matt Frawley's pitch count elevated quickly due to a number of deep counts and foul balls. He walked three and struck out three over three innings, leaving the bases loaded in the third inning after Missouri scored the game's lone run.
The Boilermakers return to action Thursday when they take on Gonzaga in the opening game of the Phoenix Muni Classic, a four-day, four-team tournament hosted by Arizona State.
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