Box Score: PDF / HTML /// Photo Gallery
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Brian Ghiselli struck out six consecutive batters and Purdue baseball matched a season-high with 13 Ks as a team, but Valparaiso came up with more timely hits to defeat the Boilermakers 5-1 Wednesday at Alexander Field.
Purdue (13-11) hit into three inning-ending double plays, had a runner thrown out at the plate in the third inning and left 10 runners on base. The Boilermakers were just 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position and 5-for-18 with runners on base.
The Crusaders (9-13) posted their first victory in West Lafayette since 1977, which was also the last year they won consecutive games against Purdue. Valparaiso won last year's meeting in Northwest Indiana to snap the Boilermakers' seven-game win streak in the series.
Ghiselli struck out a career-high eight and did not issue a walk over 5 2/3 innings of one-run relief. Tanner Schumacher matched his career-high with five Ks over 3 1/3 innings, but also allowed 10 of the 20 batters he faced to reach base safely. The Crusaders scored twice in both the third and fourth innings to take control of the game. Four consecutive batters reached base safely in both frames.
Strikeouts by #Purdue pitchers headline the highlights from tonight's @BTNStudentU webcast. 13 Ks tied season high. https://t.co/RSdppcOfuv
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) March 30, 2017
Since scoring 16 runs in its midweek opener at Ball State last week, Purdue has scored just eight runs in its last five games. The Boilermakers managed to win two of their last five thanks to a shutout at Iowa and walk-off victory vs. Kent State. On this day, Purdue loaded the bases in the sixth and ninth innings but did not score. Purdue brought the tying run to the plate with one out in the ninth, but Mike Madej grounded into a game-ending twin killing. Valparaiso also turned impressive inning-ending double plays in the bottom of the fourth (6-4-3) and fifth (5-4-3).
Ghiselli retired 11 consecutive batters from the fourth through eighth innings. The senior struck out seven of the nine batters his first time through the Valpo lineup. He fanned the final batter of the fifth inning, the side (8-9-1) in order in the bottom of the sixth, and the first two batters of the seventh. He also picked off a runner at second base. Schumacher (0-3) struck out four his first time through the Valpo lineup.
Alec Olund singled in each of his final three at-bats to record his second collegiate three-hit game. He drove in the Boilermakers' only run with a base hit in the fifth inning. Purdue had runners on the corners and the tying run at the plate, but a double play followed. Nick Dalesandro (20 straight games) and Skyler (14) both collected a pair of singles to extend their reached base safely streaks.
Mark Wasikowski & Brian Ghiselli tonight's 5-1 loss to Valpo on a night in which #Purdue was 3-for-11 with RISP. https://t.co/N88E6j3tI6
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) March 30, 2017
Valpo starter Grant Inman (3-2) retired the first six batters he faced and did not give up a hit his first time through the Purdue lineup. Shipley singled against Inman with two outs in the bottom of the third, but Logan Poisall was thrown out at the plate on the play. Valparaiso retired the Boilermakers' leadoff man in six of the nine innings.
Chad Jacob and Nate Palace both recoded an RBI and scored a run, finishing the night a combined 5-for-9. They had consecutive singles in both of Valpo's two-run innings.
Purdue returns to action Friday when it begins a three-game series at Ohio State. The Boilermakers have not played at OSU's Bill Davis Stadium since March 2012.
As I was leaving softball tonight I made a quick flight with my @DJIGlobal #phantom4pro to capture the scene at @PurdueBaseball #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/u6GuHc40NG
-- Dave Wegiel Photo (@pinolaphoto) March 30, 2017