MUNCIE, Ind. -- Ball State scored in five of the first six innings and limited Purdue baseball to five hits, taking the midweek game, 8-2, Wednesday afternoon.
The Cardinals (16-7) won their ninth consecutive game and the Boilermakers (9-14) dropped their fourth in a row.
Each of the first four runs in the game was scored via the long ball. Michael Vilardo connected for his first home run as a Boilermaker in the third inning, an opposite field solo shot to right. But by then the Ball State had gotten a solo home run from Ryan Spaulding in bottom of the first and two-run blast from Matt Eppers an inning later.
Purdue had more walks (eight) than hits (five) in the game, but had at least one base runner in every inning except the first. However, the Boilers left 11 runners on base after being 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position. Kyle Wood walked twice and was hit by a pitch. Vilardo finished with two hits and Justin Gubser (two walks), Ted Snidanko (walk and a single) and Harry Shipley (two walks) also reached base safely twice.
The Boilermakers committed three errors behind starting pitcher Gavin Downs, their most since the nightcap of the Feb. 21 doubleheader against Sam Houston State. Downs (1-2) escaped a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the first to keep it a 1-0 game, but wasn't able to bring the fourth inning to a close as easily. After a pair of walks and a throwing error on a stolen base, he induced a ground ball to shortstop with runners on the corners. Shipley stayed back on the chopper near the second base bag and Eppers beat the flip to second, making it an RBI fielder's choice. A two-out RBI single followed.
Down 6-1 in the top of the sixth, three straight walks allowed Purdue to load the bases with two outs. But David Current struck out James Jewell to escape the jam.
Mike Lutz and Brian Ghiselli each worked a 1-2-3 inning of relief as the final pitchers of the day for the Boilers.
Brandon Krieg started at second base Wednesday for the first time since the end of the 2013. Jack Picchiotti made his first start of the season at third.
Purdue and Ball State are scheduled to play again April 22 in West Lafayette.
The Boilermakers return to action Friday when they begin a three-game weekend series against Butler. The first two games are scheduled to be played at Alexander Field and the series finale is set for Bulldog Park in Indianapolis.