LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Purdue baseball had its leadoff man reach base safely in four of the first five frames but only managed to score in one of those innings, and the missed opportunities cost the Boilermakers in a 5-3 loss at No. 11 Louisville Tuesday afternoon in their midweek opener.
Purdue (7-11) was limited to seven hits in the game, all singles, and couldn't get a timely a hit until the ninth inning. But by then the Cardinals (15-6) had broken open a 2-2 tie entering the sixth with a single tally in three straight frames.
Gavin Downs did not issue a walk over five innings of two-run ball in his first start since opening day. Three of the five hits he allowed came in consecutive fashion to open the top of the fourth, as Louisville answered the two-spot Purdue had posted to open the scoring in the top of the frame.
Louisville starter Anthony Kidston walked three of the first five batters he faced, but also struck out six over five innings. He ended three of the five innings he worked with a strikeout.
The Boilermakers had runners on second and third with one out in the fifth and runners on first and second with two outs in the seventh, but came away empty in both innings. Kidston struck out Michael Vilardo with a timely changeup in the fifth and then got Brandon Krieg looking to end the frame. Vilardo came up with the tying run in second position in the seventh, but Louisville reliever Lincoln Henzman (3-0) was able to recover and record the out after Vilardo's comebacker initially caromed off the pitcher's glove.
Kidston issued inning-opening walks to Vilardo and Jack Picchiotti in the first two innings, but the runners were erased by a 4-6-3 double play and pickoff at first on a failed sacrifice bunt, respectively.
Krieg opened the top of the fourth with a long fly ball to the warning track in left field that would have been a home run on most days if not for a 30-mph wind gusting in from left field for much of the game. Left fielder Mike White dropped the ball, allowing Krieg to reach safely at second base. Kyle Johnson followed with a line drive single to left field. Picchiotti's RBI ground out gave the Boilers the lead and Johnson scored moments later on a wild pitch.
Jordan Lewis came through with a pinch hit double off the right fielder's glove in the ninth inning and scored on Daniel Sander's two-out single. That sequence allowed Purdue to bring the tying run to the plate, but Kade McClure struck out Harry Shipley to close out the win.
Two bunts, a walk and an RBI fielder's choice allowed Louisville to score the go-ahead run in the bottom of the sixth. Krieg was charged with an error on the inning-opening bunt. After a walk, Tim McElroy scooped up a sacrifice bunt by Will Smith, but with his momentum carrying the big southpaw toward the third base dugout and Krieg already charging the play from third, McElroy (0-1) had no play.
Krieg opted to go for a 5-4-3 double play on the subsequent chopper to third base. The Boilers could only get the out at second and the go-ahead run scored on the fielder's choice. McElroy limited the damage by getting the next hitter to ground into an inning-ending double play that Cody Strong handled himself at second base.
Shipley was the lone Purdue player to record multiple hits in the loss. The Boilers' one through five hitters were a combined 1-for-17 with three walks. Kyle Wood's 13-game reached base safely streak ended with an 0-for-4 day.
Purdue opens its home schedule Wednesday with a 5:30 p.m. midweek game against Valparaiso. It will be the first meeting between the in-state rivals since the 2012 NCAA Regional the Boilers hosted at the U.S. Steel Yard in Gary.
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- Poster Swag (@SportPosterSwag) March 17, 2015