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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Gareth Stroh worked seven 1-2-3 innings in a two-hit complete game and Purdue baseball scored twice with two outs in the first inning for the second day in a row, defeating Illinois 4-1 Saturday at Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers (21-18, 8-6 B1G) improved to 4-1 at home in Big Ten play and clinched their fifth series victory of the season. With three of those coming in conference play, Purdue has matched its total the last four years combined. The Boilermakers have won five straight vs. the Fighting Illini (15-21, 3-8 B1G) in West Lafayette dating back to 2012.
Stroh (4-3) retired the first 12 batters of the game and 27 of 29 total, joining Tanner Andrews as Purdue pitchers to throw a complete game this season. He struck out a career-high eight and did not issue a walk. The only hits he allowed were a leadoff single to cleanup man Michael Massey in the top of the fifth and a two-out homer to Jack Yalowitz in the ninth inning. The long ball not only broke up the shutout, but also ended Stroh's streak of 14 consecutive batters retired.
Stroh needed only 98 pitches to record the 27 outs. He was a big reason why the game went final before the sun went down despite the 6 p.m. start. In Big Ten play this season, the lefty is 3-1 with a 2.41 ERA, .226 batting average against and 20 strikeouts vs. four walks in 33 2/3 innings pitched.
Nick Dalesandro's two-out infield single ignited the Boilermakers' two-run rally in the first inning. He stole second base and scored on Skyler Hunter's opposite-field single into left center. Hunter took second on the throw home and also scored after Jacson McGowan followed with an RBI single down the left field line.
Gareth Stroh & Coach @Waz4412 discuss Stroh's complete-game gem & the 4-1 series-clinching win vs. Illinois. https://t.co/aqN2fLMif2
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 23, 2017
The two-out rally was significant because Illinois starter Cyrillo Watson (1-4) also pitched well on a night in which the wind was blowing in again at Alexander Field. The freshman retired 11 of 12 batters from the second through fifth innings and induced a 5-4-3 double play to erase the final hit he allowed, a leadoff single by Hunter to open the bottom of the sixth.
Bryce Bonner singled twice and walked twice to reach base safely four times. Milo Beam recorded a pair of singles and was hit by a pitch. They led the way as the bottom third of the Boilermakers' lineup was a combined 5-for-8 with three free passes and a sacrifice bunt.
Bonner and Beam scored insurance runs in the seventh when a two-out grounder off the bat of Harry Shipley got through Massey at second base.
Leadoff man Evan Warden was kept off base for the first time since March 18, ending his 19-game reached base safely streak. Hunter extended his reached safely streak in Big Ten play to 14 consecutive games and has hit safely in seven straight games overall.
Purdue stole four bases for the second night in a row. Six different Boilermakers have swiped a base in the series so far.
Sunday's series finale is slated for a 3 p.m. ET first pitch and will be televised live by the Big Ten Network.
Thanks to all the #Boilermakers that returned to campus for our Alumni Day activities this afternoon at Alexander. #EverGrateful #EverTrue pic.twitter.com/GV31mwGyxC
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 22, 2017
30 years ago these alumni were playing in the Mideast Regional of the NCAA Tournament. pic.twitter.com/fcj3of1dpQ
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 22, 2017
Great pitching performance by Stroh & another victory for @PurdueBaseball. Great to see former âš¾️ alumni at the ballpark 🚂🆙 #fourfaves pic.twitter.com/bA57YXWtmo
-- 🚂BLRMKRdave (@BLRMKRdave) April 23, 2017