WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue baseball carried a two-run lead into the top of the eighth after six strong innings from starter Brett Haan, but No. 24 Iowa scored eight times in the eighth inning to rally past the Boilermakers, 10-5, Saturday afternoon at Alexander Field.
Jordan Lewis and Kyle Wood both connected for a solo home run to right field early in the game to help Purdue (10-20, 1-4 Big Ten) build an early 4-1 advantage. But the Hawkeyes (20-7, 5-0 Big Ten) sent 11 men to the plate for the game-changing rally in the eighth inning. Nick Roscetti, Jake Mangler and Tyler Peyton each had a two-run single in the inning. It marked the second Saturday in a row in which the opposition put together an eight-run frame at Alexander Field.
Haan induced a 6-4-3 double play in each of the first two innings to eliminate the leadoff man reaching base safely in both frames. He surrendered just two runs (one earned) on six hits over six-plus innings, his longest outing in a Big Ten start as a Boilermaker. The 1-2-3 inning he worked against Iowa's 4-5-6 hitters in the top of the sixth was Purdue's first true 1-2-3 frame of the series.
Wood (1-1) took the mound to begin the top of the eighth. It was his first appearance since March 18, but he entered the day having struck out 12 over 5 1/3 innings this season. He fanned Peyton to begin the frame, but was unable to record another out. Three singles, a walk and a hit batter while Wood was on the mound allowed Iowa to take a 5-4 lead on Roscetti's single with the bases loaded. Matt Gibbs took over the mound and retired the first batter he faced, but three straight singles followed.
Wood led off the fourth inning with his third home run of the season and 11th as a Boilermaker. Purdue went on to score twice more in the frame. Singles by Lewis and Daniel Sander along with a walk to Ted Snidanko loaded the bases with one out. Kyle Johnson drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to center field and the Boilers successfully used a walk-off play to steal the final run of the inning. With runners on the corners, Sander intentionally got into a rundown between first and second, allowing Snidanko to touch home plate a few seconds before Sander was tagged for the final out.
Lewis connected for his first collegiate home run to lead off the second inning. The sophomore batted cleanup for the first time as a Boilermaker Saturday.
Iowa scored both of its runs against Haan with two outs. Kris Goodman tripled over Johnson's head in right center in the fourth inning and scored on Joel Booker's subsequent base hit up the middle. The following frame, Eric Toole reached on an error, stole second and scored on Mangler's double down the left field line.
Iowa starter Blake Hickman (4-1) went seven innings to earn the win after his teammates rallied in the top of the eighth. He surrendered the two home runs but gave up just three other singles. He retired eight consecutive hitters from the fourth through seventh innings.
Joe Eichmann was the first man out of the bullpen for Purdue, retiring Toole and Mangler in the seventh to strand a pair of runners and keep his team in front, 4-2.
The Boilermakers lost for the second time this season when leading after seven innings.
Johnson walked in the seventh inning to extend his reached base safely streak to 11 consecutive games. Jack Picchiotti has reached safely in 13 straight Big Ten games dating back to last season.
The series finale is set for Sunday at 1 p.m.
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