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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Michigan State capitalized on having at least one base runner in each of the first eight innings while Purdue baseball couldn't cash in on five leadoff men reaching base safely, as the Spartans took the opener of the Big Ten series 11-0 Friday evening at Alexander Field.
Michigan State (24-6, 6-1 B1G) blew the game open with a four-run fifth inning, but it was starter Cam Vieaux that led the way with a complete-game shutout. The Boilermakers (4-26, 0-10 B1G) were blanked for the third time this season, but for first time since Feb. 27 at No. 10 California. Purdue was shut out in Big Ten play for the first time since April of last season at Michigan.
The Spartans posted their fifth shutout win of the season. Vieaux (6-1) surrendered nine hits, six coming over the first four innings, but went the distance for MSU's first complete game of the year. Purdue hit into double plays after recording inning-opening singles in both the third and fourth innings.
Jordan Zimmerman connected for a two-run homer in the top of the fifth to chase starter Gavin Downs (0-3). His one-out double in the eighth inning ignited a five-run rally.
Vieaux pitched the majority of the game out of the stretch after allowing at least one hit in seven of the first eight frames. But the Boilermakers couldn't come up with timely hits to take advantage of their leadoff man reaching base safely five times from the second through eighth innings.
Kyle Wood was hit by a pitch twice and singled in his final at-bat to reach base safely three times. Nick Dalesandro and Alec Olund each had a pair of hits, Dalesandro singling to center field to open the second and fourth innings.
Both teams had a runner thrown out at home trying to score from first base on a two-out double to left field. Jack Picchiotti and Harry Shipley teamed up for a relay sequence to cut down the runner at the plate to end the fifth inning. It was the 14th runner Purdue has thrown out at the plate over the last 17 games. But in the bottom of the sixth, MSU returned the favor when Wood was cut down at home on a double from Brett Carlson.
The Boilermakers had a 6-4 edge in the hit column through the first four innings, but MSU led 2-0 thanks to a run-scoring wild pitch and aggressive base running by Kris Simonton on a one-out comebacker. Downs retired the MSU cleanup hitter on a soft line drive to shortstop for the second out with runners on second and third in the third inning, but the wild pitch moments later gave MSU the lead. The following frame, a leadoff single, stolen base and passed ball put Simonton at third with one out. Downs induced a comebacker, but Simonton broke for home on the throw to first and was able to score easily when Wood couldn't find the ears on it after recording the put out.
The series continues Saturday at 4 p.m.