COLUMBUS, Ohio - Gareth Stroh retired 13 of the first 14 batters of the game in his finest performance of the season and Purdue baseball scored in each of the first four innings to defeat Ohio State 6-1 Saturday.
The Boilermakers (14-12, 2-3 B1G) bounced back from a mistake-filled 13-2 loss Friday to even the Big Ten series and set up a Sunday rubber game. Purdue scored three times in the second inning and plated four of its six runs via RBI ground outs. The Boilermakers were successful in plating a runner from third base with less than two outs in all five of their opportunities.
Stroh (2-2) worked 7 2/3 innings of one-run ball in his longest outing of the year. He did not issue a base on balls for the second start in a row after walking 12 batters over eight innings in his two outings on the spring break trip. The lefty worked three consecutive 1-2-3 innings early in the game during a stretch of 11 consecutive batters retired. He had four 1-2-3 frames total, putting away OSU's 2-3-4 hitters in the bottom of the sixth to respond nicely after giving up three hits and a run in the previous frame.
Ross Learnard escaped a bases-loaded jam by retiring Ohio State (11-15, 1-4 B1G) cleanup hitter Noah McGowan in the eighth inning and closed out the win to extend his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 15. The southpaw earned his first save as a Boilermaker and lowered his ERA for the season to 0.50.
ICYMI: Full highlights from tonight's 6-1 win at Ohio State that evened the series. Rubber game Sunday at 1pm ET. https://t.co/Xd6SqLHrIC
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 2, 2017
Bryce Bonner recorded his second three hit-game of the year, doubling to open Purdue's three-run second inning. He has reached base safely in all 13 games he has started this season and now has seven doubles in the last 12 games.
Alec Olund delivered an RBI triple in the second inning and also made a nice diving catch in right center to take away a two-out single from McGowan in the bottom of the sixth. Mike Madej singled home Bonner in the second inning and made up for a pair of errors in the bottom of the eighth by handling a hot shot off the bat of McGowan for the final out of frame. First baseman Jacson McGowan also made a nice pick on the other side of the diamond to make sure the bases-loaded threat went by wayside.
The other highlight-reel caliber defensive play Saturday came from Evan Warden at second base. He made a diving catch of a line drive and doubled off a runner at first base to end the seventh inning. He also played a key role in three of Purdue's six runs despite not recording a hit. Warden was hit by a pitch to begin the game for the second day in a row. After taking second on a sacrifice bunt by Harry Shipley, Warden stole third and scored on an RBI ground out from Nick Dalesandro. An inning later, Warden drove in Olund with an RBI ground out. In the top of the fourth, he executed a squeeze bunt to plate Madej as the Boilermakers' final run of the night.
Gareth Stroh put together his finest performance of the year tonight in a big spot. He discusses his gem at Ohio St. https://t.co/KH7LoUO7Pc
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 2, 2017
Purdue's leadoff man reached base safely in each of the first four innings against OSU starter Ryan Feltner (0-5). Nick Dalesandro and Madej both stole second after getting on base and came around as the Boilermakers successfully manufactured runs.
Dalesandro's leadoff single in the top of third extended his reached base safely streak to 22 consecutive games. Skyler Hunter walked twice to push his reached safely streak to 16 straight games. Hunter also played well in center field, making seven catches on the night.
Sunday's game rubber game is slated for 1 p.m. ET. The home team has not won a Purdue-Ohio State series since the Buckeyes took three of four in Columbus in 2006.