Box Score: PDF / HTML /// Series Stats
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue baseball rallied from deficits of 6-0 and 8-1 but stranded the potential tying run at third base in each of the final two innings, losing the series finale with Nebraska 9-8 Sunday afternoon at Alexander Field.
Kyle Wood had an RBI triple and three-run homer, going deep for the ninth time in the last 14 games. He hit for the cycle over the course of the series and has now recorded an extra-base hit in nine consecutive games. Wood finished the week 8-for-19 with three homers, six total extra-base hits and 14 RBI.
The Boilermakers (4-17, 0-3 B1G) posted consecutive three-run innings in the sixth and seventh to get back in the game. In the bottom of the eighth, the first three Purdue batters reached base safely against Nebraska closer Chad Luensmann. The Boilermakers had the tying run at the third base with one out after an RBI fielder's choice from Brett Carlson, but Luensmann struck out Kyle Johnson and got Wood to fly out to right field to end the threat.
Luensmann hit Nick Dalesandro in the helmet with the first pitch of the bottom of the ninth. Dalesandro was able to stay in the game and moved into scoring position on James Jewell's sacrifice bunt. But a comebacker and strikeout ended the game with Dalesandro representing the tying run on third base.
There were a combined six errors and three unearned runs scored in the game. A throwing error on a botched fielder's choice and dropped fly ball with two outs helped the Huskers score a pair of runs. Steven Reveles' two-out solo homer into the left field bullpen in the eighth inning ultimately accounted for the deciding run. It was the only run Gavin Downs allowed over 3 2/3 innings of relief.
Nebraska (16-7, 3-0 B1G) outscored Purdue 20-6 over the first five innings of the series. The Huskers won all five of their games on their road trip to the state of Indiana and have won 13 of their last 14 games overall. The road team has won each of the first four Purdue-Nebraska series as Big Ten rivals, with the Huskers posting their second sweep at Alexander Field.
Over their last nine games, the Boilermakers have been outscored 58-12 in the first five innings while also enjoying a 26-16 scoring edge after the fifth inning. Not surprisingly, Purdue is just 1-8 in those nine games, the lone win being a 15-inning marathon against Ohio on March 19.
Nebraska starter Matt Waldron (4-1) retired the first 10 batters of the game. Jack Picchiotti's double in the fourth inning led to the Boilermakers' first run after a two-out error extended the frame.
Jake Placzek homered to left field in the top of the first inning, giving his team an early 2-0 lead en route to a three-hit effort. Reveles delivered a two-run double over Johnson's head in center field as the Huskers' 7-8-9 hitters teamed up to create a three-run rally in the top of the fourth. Jake Meyers was able to score from first base on a two-out single down the right field line from Taylor Fish an inning later, sliding underneath the tag on a close play at the plate.
Wood tripled into the right field corner with Johnson aboard in the sixth inning. Wood also scored on the play when Nebraska threw the ball away trying to cut him down at third base. An inning later, Wood hit his sixth opposite-field home run of the season, going deep to left center with Duncan McKinnon and Carlson aboard.
Not only did Purdue have the tying at third base in both the eighth and ninth innings, but also had runners at first and second with one out after Wood's homer. Reece Eddins induced a 6-4-3 double play to end the threat in the bottom of the seventh.
The Boilermakers lost Daniel Sander to a leg injury in the sixth inning when he collided with the Nebraska first baseman while beating out an infield single. The two-out hustle did lead to a run after Alec Olund came through with an RBI single to plate Sander's pinch runner, Hayden Grant.
Cody Strong and Johnson both extended their reached base safely streaks to 10 consecutive games.
Purdue returns to action Wednesday when it hosts Valparaiso at 6 p.m.
