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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Gavin Downs' final collegiate start proved to be his best as the senior struck out a career-high seven in a complete-game shutout of Cal State Northridge, leading Purdue baseball to a 5-0 victory Thursday evening at Alexander Field.
Downs pitched the first complete-game shutout by a Boilermaker since Joe Haase blanked Michigan in the opener of the final weekend series at Lambert Field in May 2012. But Downs had been the last Purdue pitcher to work a complete game, going the distance in a 2-0 loss to Ohio State in April 2014.
Kyle Johnson led the way offensively with an RBI triple, two stolen bases and two runs scored. He and Daniel Sander executed a walk-off play on a double steal in the sixth inning, Johnson breaking for home as CSUN threw to third base and sliding in safely amidst a close play at the plate.
..@Davin_Gowns discusses the marvelous coda to his collegiate career. Career-high 7 Ks in complete-game shutout. https://t.co/rl4Lv5sLkM
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) May 20, 2016
The Boilermakers (8-43) snapped their 15-game losing streak, winning for the first time since Downs worked eight innings of one-run ball at Maryland on April 22. However, it was Purdue's second shutout win of the season, both coming in 5-0 fashion.
Downs (2-5) threw 145 pitches in a memorable coda to his college career. All seven hits he allowed were singles. He did not give up more than one hit in an inning until a pair of CSUN pinch hitters recorded consecutive two-out singles in the ninth inning. Downs struck out the first two batters of the ninth and recorded six of his seven Ks vs. the final 14 batters he faced.
While the Matadors (31-18) committed six errors -- all by their infielders -- the Purdue defense backed up Downs with a clean game on a night in which he induced 11 ground ball outs. Kyle Wood, Harry Shipley and Downs teamed up for an inning-ending 3-6-1 double play in the top of the first. Johnson made a strong running catch in deep left center field for the final out of the eighth inning. Jack Picchiotti chipped in a sliding catch on a sinking line drive to left field in the fifth inning, which was Downs' only 1-2-3 frame of the night.
Stephen Kalina's leadoff single in the bottom of the fourth was the Boilermakers' first hit of the game against CSUN starter Joe Ryan (1-1). Johnson followed with a triple into the left field corner to open the scoring. Wood plated Johnson when his hard-hit ground ball got through the Matadors' first baseman.
So many highlights from tonight's 5-0 win over CSUN. Here they are, courtesy of our great @BTNStudentU crew. https://t.co/KvbG88vwht
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) May 20, 2016
Leadoff singles by Johnson in the sixth and Picchiotti in the seventh also led to runs. CSUN reliever Matt Troupe struck out the side in the bottom of the sixth. But before he could finish off the third K, head coach Doug Schreiber called for the walk-off play with Sander and Johnson on the corners and two strikes on the batter.
Downs' performance was reminiscent of what his former teammate Robert Ramer did in his last collegiate start on a Thursday night at Alexander Field in the opener of the final series of the 2013 season. Ramer threw 144 pitches over 10 2/3 innings against Iowa, finishing one out shy of tying the program record for innings pitched in a game. But the Hawkeyes won the pitcher's duel 2-1 in 11 innings.
The four-game series continues Friday at 7 p.m.