WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Purdue baseball drew 11 walks but left the bases loaded three times over the last four innings, dropping game two of its series with Big Ten-leading Michigan State 5-3 Saturday afternoon at Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers (4-27, 0-11 B1G) were just 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position while leaving 14 runners on base, their most in a loss this season. Purdue's 11 walks were its most since also drawing 11 in its 2012 Big Ten title clincher against Michigan. Nick Dalesandro, Kyle Johnson and Duncan McKinnon all reached base safely four times Saturday.
Michigan State reliever Dakota Mekkes walked five and struck out five while closing out the game with 3 1/3 innings of one-run relief. He walked in a run with a two-out, bases-loaded pass of Dalesandro in the seventh inning, but was able record the big outs when he needed them in the four other frames he finished. Eleven of the 14 runners left on base came with Mekkes on the mound.
Justin Hovis reached base safely four times for the Spartans (25-6, 7-1 B1G), scoring the game's first run after a leadoff double in the third inning and singling home a run the following frame. Michigan State took advantage of a pair of throwing errors on a comebacker, scoring two unearned runs in the top of the fourth, and used a suicide squeeze to plate another run in the sixth inning.
Dalesandro recorded a pair of outfield assists after helping the Boilermakers cut down runners at the plate on hits to left field in the sixth and seventh innings. Purdue has thrown out 16 runners at home over the last 18 games. Dalesandro has accounted for four of his five outfield assists during that stretch.
Matt Frawley (1-3) struck out six over 6 1/3 innings, striking out the side in order to begin his outing. Unlike his counterpart, he only issued one free pass, but committed a pair of throwing errors to account for two of the Boilermakers' four defensive miscues.
The Spartans played a clean game defensively and made two diving stops in the fourth inning with men aboard to prevent Purdue from cutting into their 3-1 lead.
Mekkes won a bases-loaded battle with James Jewell on a ground out to second base to leave the bases loaded shortly after entering the game in the bottom of the sixth. MSU's relief ace finished off the next three innings with strike outs.
Dalesandro has now hit safely in eight straight games after singling in twice Saturday, driving in a run with a two-out hit in the bottom of the sixth. The freshman has accounted for two of the three longest hitting streaks on the team this season.
The series finale is set for 1 p.m. Sunday. Fans are invited to bring their dogs to the ballpark for the annual Bark at the Park game.