Box Score: PDF / HTML /// Series Stats
PISCATAWAY, N.J. - Purdue baseball committed four errors and issued eight walks, falling behind early in an 8-2 rubber-game loss at Rutgers on Sunday.
The Boilermakers (18-17, 6-6 B1G) fell to 1-7 on Sundays this season. They've been outscored 78-29 in those seven losses. Purdue also lost a series after winning the opening game for the third time this season and 16th time since 2010. Rutgers (13-19, 2-4 B1G) has rallied back on the Boilermakers in each of their first two series as Big Ten Conference rivals.
Purdue committed nine errors in the series, including seven over the final two games. Six different players were charged with a defensive miscue. The fourth inning haunted the Boilermakers for the second day in a row. All nine Rutgers batters came to the plate in the frame as RU scored four times to blow the game open. After a leadoff double, Purdue was unable to record an out on consecutive bunts.
Starter John O'Reilly retired the first 19 batters of the game for the Scarlet Knights. A one-out walk to Harry Shipley ended the perfect game bid in the top of the seventh inning. Skyler Hunter's two-out single and Jacson McGowan's two-run double broke up the no-hit bid and shutout later in the frame. Hunter scored from first base on the gapper to left center. O'Reilly (3-5) surrendered just three hits, induced 11 ground ball outs and struck out seven over eight innings, throwing only 94 pitches.
Head coach Mark Wasikowski speaks frankly about #Purdue's poor performance over the final 2 games of the RU series. https://t.co/RIro852nX3
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 16, 2017
Meanwhile, Purdue did not record its first strikeout until Hunter Wolfe fanned Mike Martinez on the front half of a strike `em out throw `em out double play in the sixth inning. Catcher Nick Dalesandro threw out a pair of base stealers at third base.
Alec Olund threw out a runner at the plate from right field in the third inning, recording his team-leading fifth outfield assist of the season and 10th career.
Ross Learnard induced a line-drive double play and then finished off the bottom of the eighth with a strikeout for his 23rd consecutive scoreless inning.
Bryce Bonner led off the eighth inning with his 11th double in his last 62 at-bats dating back to March 12. There was a ground-rule double in all three games of the series. Evan Warden walked in his final plate appearance to extend his reached base safely streak to 16 consecutive games.
Purdue starter Mike Kornacker (1-2) walked the first two batters of the game. He induced a 6-3 double play moments later, but Tom Marcinczyk followed with a RBI single. The senior beat the shift with a ground ball through the vacant left side after Shipley was moved to the right side of second base.
Chris Folinusz doubled in his first two at-bats, including a two-out, two-run double on a full-count pitch in the first inning.
The Boilermakers are slated to be at home for the next four weekends. They play 15 of their next 17 games at home during that stretch, beginning with Tuesday's midweek rematch vs. Ball State. First pitch at Alexander Field is slated for 6 p.m. ET.
Highlights from today's 8-2 loss at Rutgers. Thanks to RU's @BTNStudentU group for the video coverage all weekend. https://t.co/1GY4cS2JEj
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 16, 2017