MUNCIE, Ind. - Purdue baseball posted season highs for runs and hits, scoring multiple times in five of the first six innings to roll past Ball State 16-4 Wednesday in the Boilermakers' midweek opener.
Purdue's leadoff man reached base safely in seven of the first eight innings. Skyler Hunter drove in a run in each of his three at-bats, posting the first five-RBI game by a Boilermaker this season. He delivered a three-run double with the bases loaded for the second game in a row. He was one of eight Purdue hitters to record multiple hits.
PURDUE NOTABLES
- With their sixth straight victory, the Boilermakers (11-8) are riding their longest streak since winning 10 in a row in April 2012. They've scored 58 runs during their win streak.
- Purdue recorded 20 hits in a game for the first time since a March 2015 win vs. Northern Illinois. The 16 runs were the most since scoring 19 in a win at East Tennessee State in March of last season.
- The Boilermakers won in Muncie for the first time since April 2012.
- Hunter has now hit safely in nine straight games. He's 10-for-19 with 13 RBI during the six-game win streak.
Jack Dellinger (1-1) earned his first collegiate win, working a season-high five innings. He posted four straight zeros after Ball State (11-10) took advantage of some defensive miscues to score three times in the bottom of the first. But Dellinger gave up just one additional hit, another wind-aided triple to right field in the fifth inning. The freshman retired 13 of the final 16 batters he faced.
Nick Dalesandro had three hits and scored four times, reaching base safely for the 15th consecutive game. He either scored or drove in a run in all six innings in which Purdue scored. He also threw out a runner at the plate from left field for his first outfield assist of the season.
Evan Kennedy reached base safely four times, delivering RBI singles in the fourth and fifth innings. Dalesandro and Kennedy executed a double steal on a walk-off play with runners on the corners and two outs in the first inning. Kennedy stayed in the rundown long enough to allow Dalesandro to break for home and get his hand on the plate as the throw arrived.
.@EvanKennedy41 salutes team's base-hit approach w/ wind blowing in today at Ball St. Feels good to win 6 straight. https://t.co/Ke19SGp5eP
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) March 22, 2017
Hunter's three-double in the third inning gave the Boilermakers the lead back and they blew it open with a five-spot the following frame. Purdue recorded six consecutive two-out singles while sending 10 men to the plate in the top of the fourth.
The wind was blowing in from center field throughout the sunny but cold day in Central Indiana. The Boilermakers utilized a consistent base-hit approach against the seven pitchers Ball State used in the game. Nineteen of Purdue's 21 hits were singles.
Ross Learnard, Nick Wojtysiak and Cameron Williams each worked a 1-2-3 inning of relief. Learnard lowered his ERA on the season to 0.69 and has now worked 10 consecutive scoreless innings over five appearances dating back to March 11.
Milo Beam replaced Hunter in center field in the middle of the fourth inning. Beam singled twice and walked, making Purdue's six-hole in the lineup 5-for-5 for the day.
Harry Shipley led off a pair of innings with a hit and scored three times, extending his reached base safely streak to 11 consecutive games. Mike Madej had five productive plate appearances, singling twice to go along with a sacrifice bunt, sac fly and hit by pitch. Even the out he was charged with, a ground out to second base in the fifth inning, advanced Shipley into third base with one out.
Purdue and Ball State will play again April 18 at Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers return to action Friday when they open Big Ten Conference play at Iowa. It will be Purdue's first visit to Iowa City since May 2012.