EAST LANSING, Mich. -- Kyle Wood and Justin Gubser both connected for a two-run homer, but Purdue baseball couldn't overcome a five-run deficit after three innings, falling to Michigan State, 10-7, Saturday afternoon.
The Spartans (29-17, 11-6 Big Ten) clinched their fourth straight Big Ten series victory while winning for the ninth time in their last 10 conference games.
The Boilermakers (14-33, 1-16 Big Ten) scored seven times on six hits and four walks against reigning Big Ten Pitcher of the Week Mick VanVossen (4-4). Purdue brought the potential tying run to the plate in the seventh inning after facing early deficits of 6-2 and 9-4. After fanning 10 Purdue hitters over seven innings last season, VanVossen recorded just one strikeout Saturday.
Alex Lyons struck out a season-high five over five innings of one-run relief. He matched Shane Bryant for the longest relief outing of the season by a Boilermaker. Lyons put up three consecutive zeroes to begin his outing, working a 1-2-3 fifth inning by striking out MSU's No. 2 and 3 hitters.
Alec Olund made a great diving catch on the warning track in right center for the final out of the sixth inning, taking away a two-out RBI double from Chad Roskelly.
.@PurdueBaseball's Alec Olund emerges from the dust with the #BTNStandout catch! #BoilerUp http://t.co/gAzaGr1P4R
- BTN Student U (@BTNStudentU) May 2, 2015
Wood homered to right center with Cody Strong aboard in the first inning. Gubser went deep over the scoreboard in left field with Brandon Krieg on base in the sixth inning. While it marked the fourth time this season the Boilers have hit multiple homers in a game, it was the first time both long balls were multiple-run blasts. Wood connected for his team-leading sixth home run of the season, 14th career and second at MSU's McLane Stadium. Gubser went deep for the first time since the middle game of the season-opening series at Western Carolina.
The Spartans' Ryan Krill homered to right field in each of the first two frames. His three-run shot punctuated a five-run second inning as MSU posted its third five-run frame of the series.
Purdue was unable to retire Michigan State's No. 8 hitter Anthony Cheky for the second day in a row. The center fielder singled and scored in the second and third innings and later reached base safely to open the seventh when right fielder Jordan Lewis lost a fly ball in the sun.
Jack Picchiotti drove in a pair of runs for the second day in a row, coming through with a sacrifice fly to center field with the bases loaded in the third inning and a two-out RBI single in the top of the fifth after Strong had doubled.
Kyle Johnson delivered a two-out RBI single in the third inning to extend his reached base safely streak to 12 consecutive games. Leadoff man Harry Shipley was held off base in a game for the first time since April 5, ending his reached safely streak at 15.
Three relievers out of the MSU bullpen teamed up for 3 1/3 innings of hitless relief to close out the win for VanVossen. Wood was hit by a pitch with one out in the seventh inning, representing the only Purdue batter to reach base safely during that stretch.
Michigan State racked up five consecutive hits after a one-out error in its five-run second inning. Three singles and two walks led to three more runs the following frame. Mark Weist burned the Boilers with a two-out, two-run single with the bases loaded after starter Gavin Downs (4-4) was careful with Krill following the lefty's home runs in the first two innings.
The series finale is set for 1 p.m. Sunday.
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Kyle Wood goes yard to give @PurdueBaseball an early lead over @statebaseball. #B1GBBWACTH: http://t.co/QxrSfrhSyyhttp://t.co/fw4Uf6fxhL
- BTN Student U (@BTNStudentU) May 2, 2015
Like the picture of Alec Olund's @PurdueBaseball grab? You'll love the video - http://t.co/TcM2W1g1MX. pic.twitter.com/iRvoPl8dxJ
- Purdue on BTN (@PurdueOnBTN) May 2, 2015