PHOENIX -- Purdue baseball turned nine double plays on the day and won a game in thrilling fashion for the third time in the last six days, splitting a doubleheader with Gonzaga, 5-3 and 12-2, Thursday afternoon at Arizona State's Phoenix Muni Classic.
The Boilermakers (4-5) turned five double plays in game one, no bigger than a game-ending line drive twin killing to shortstop with the bases loaded in game one. Purdue led for the entirety of game one after scoring four times in the top of the first inning. But Jeff Evak's home run to lead off the top of the fourth was the Boilers' only insurance tally.
Michael Vilardo had two hits in both games. He singled to lead off the seventh inning of the nightcap, breaking up the no-hit bid for Gonzaga starter Brandon Bailey (2-1). The righthander struck out a career-high nine over seven innings of one-run ball. Purdue recorded three singles in the bottom of the seventh to also end the shutout.
Joe Eichmann took the mound in the ninth inning of game one with the bases loaded, one out and the Boilers holding their 5-3 lead. Cleanup hitter Caleb Wood hit a line drive directly at shortstop Harry Shipley, who quickly fed the ball to Cody Strong at second base to double off Dustin Breshears for the final out of the game. Eichmann earned his second save of the season and closed out the win for Gavin Downs (1-1), who worked four innings of two-run relief and did not issue a walk.
Watch Purdue Turn the Game-Ending Double Play to Close Out the Win
Purdue sent 10 men to the plate in the first inning of game one, posting its second four-run rally in the opening frame of a game for the second time this season. RBI doubles from Strong and Kyle Wood, two of the Boilers' four hits in the inning, along with three defensive miscues by Gonzaga (5-5) led to the big inning.
Brandon Krieg turned an inning-ending 5-3 double play with runners on first and second base in each game. The senior's 26-game reached base safely streak ended in game one, but he singled and doubled in his final two at-bats of the day, respectively.
Purdue also turned a pair of 6-4-3 double plays in game two as well as twin killings of the 4-6-3 and 4-3 variety. And the Boilers caught a break in the fourth inning of game one when the umpire ruled a runner slid into second base illegally as they were trying to turn a 3-6-1 double play with the bases loaded. Initially, a run scored on the play but it was taken off the scoreboard when Purdue was given the twin killing to end the inning.
The Boilermakers return to action Friday when they take on No. 17 Arizona State at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Game One Recap
The Bulldogs had Vilardo thrown out at second base trying to steal early in the first inning, but the man covering the bag dropped the ball. The shortstop and second baseman each committed an error later in the frame to help extend Purdue's rally. Wood's two-run double to right field plated Strong and Kyle Johnson. Vilardo batted twice in the inning after leading off the game with a single.
But Gonzaga starter Tyler Frost (0-2), who batted in both games and had four hits in the nightcap as the center fielder, settled in after the long top first. He retired 12 of 13 batters from the first through fifth innings. Evak's solo homer to left field in the fourth inning marked the only Boilermaker to reach base during that stretch. It was the sophomore's second collegiate round tripper after record an inside-the-park home run at Alexander Field last season.
Both teams had a runner thrown out at the plate in the middle innings. With runners on first and second with one out in the fifth inning, Johnson slipped and fell after making a catch on fly ball to right center field. The runner on third scored easily and Gonzaga tried to make it a two-run sac fly, sending the trail runner home as well. Johnson flipped the ball to Evak and Strong's relay throw cut down Wood at the plate after catcher Jack Picchiotti successfully blocked the plate. After a review of the rule book Friday, it was also determined to be a double play.
Tim McElroy replaced Downs with two aboard and one out in the eighth inning, inheriting the tying run at first base. The lefty retired the first three batters he faced, striking out a pinch hitter to lead off the ninth after getting out of the jam in the bottom of the eighth. But a single and a walk from the top of the lineup set up the dramatic finish. Matt Gibbs walked the only batter he faced to load the bases as Purdue went back to the bullpen for Eichmann as the third pitcher of the inning.
Starting pitcher Mike Kornacker did not have an easy inning but surrendered only one run over 3 1/3 innings despite giving up five hits and three walks. Downs worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the sixth and then erased a leadoff single with a 4-6-3 double play the following frame.
Game Two Recap
The Bulldogs scored in seven of the nine innings while racking up 17 hits. Gonzaga's leadoff man reached base safely in each of the first seven innings, including each of the first three frames via a leadoff walk. The four Purdue pitchers that took the mound in game two issued a combined eight walks.
Justin Jacobs connected for a three-run homer with two outs in the fifth inning to blow the game open. Leadoff man Mitchell Gunsolus finished game two 4-for-5 and just a home run shy of the cycle.
Johnson drew a leadoff walk in the second inning but was thrown out trying to steal second, allowing Bailey to face the minimum over the first six innings. He struck out five his first time through the Purdue lineup and retired 14 in a row after walking Johnson in the second.
Krieg doubled to lead off the ninth and scored on a sacrifice fly from Evan Kennedy.
Starter Brian Ghiselli faced only one batter in the second inning for the second start in a row. The Boilers turned double plays in each of the first two innings and Shane Bryant picked off a runner between second and third base to eliminate a leadoff single in the fourth, helping keeping them in the game until Jacobs went deep in the fifth.
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