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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Nick Dalesandro made a diving catch in right field to keep the go-ahead run from scoring in the top of the ninth and Milo Beam scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the frame as Purdue baseball defeated Illinois 2-1 in walk-off fashion Sunday at Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers (22-18, 9-6 B1G) completed their second sweep of the season, but it was their first three-game series sweep in Big Ten Conference play since March 2013 at Penn State. Purdue has now won six straight against the Fighting Illini (15-22, 3-9 B1G) in West Lafayette. They were the last Big Ten opponent Purdue had swept at home (April 2012). This weekend marked the Boilermakers' first three-game sweep of a conference rival at Alexander Field.
Purdue limited Illinois to four runs in the series. Three stellar diving plays headlined the defensive highlights Sunday. The Illini had the go-ahead run at second base with one out when Dalesandro laid out down the right field line to rob Ben Troike of extra bases. The play also kept Ross Learnard's consecutive scoreless innings streak alive, now at 26, after the lefty retired the next batter on a pop up to third base.
Beam reached base safely three times via a base hit and two walks. He drew a two-walk in the ninth inning as one of just three batters to reach base safely against reliever Ryan Thompson (2-2). Illinois went to the bullpen for closer Joey Gerber to face Evan Warden. Beam stole second while the Boilermakers' leadoff man worked the count full, eventually hitting a ground ball to third. Beam was in motion on the pitch and was able to score the game-winning run when the ball rolled under the glove of Trent Hammond and into short left field.
Highlights from today's 2-1 walk-off win vs. Illinois. 10-game homestand continues Tuesday (date change) vs IPFW. https://t.co/oRGDDwWn20
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 23, 2017
It was Purdue's second walk-off win of the season, both coming with two outs in the bottom of the ninth at Alexander Field. The Boilermakers improved to 6-2 in one-run games after being 2-13 in one-run affairs last year.
Purdue starter Mike Kornacker worked 5 2/3 innings of two-hit ball, issuing just one walk. He retired 16 of the 19 batters he faced, including 11 in a row from the second through fifth innings. Beam and Harry Shipley backed him up with hit-robbing plays.
Beam made a diving catch in left center to rob Troike of a two-out single in the top of the second. Shipley made a diving stop near second base in the sixth inning, stepping on the bag for a force out before throwing low to first as he tried to complete the double play. After the batter took second on the throw, the Boilermakers went to the bullpen for Cameron Williams and the big right-hander struck out Ryan Engel looking to finish the frame.
Purdue was 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position and 1-for-15 with runners on base. Illinois wasn't much better at 1-for-8 with RISP and 3-for-14 with at least one man aboard. The Fighting Illini cut down Warden at the plate on a failed squeeze bunt in the first inning. Purdue left the bases loaded the following frame.
Warden was hit a by a pitch in each of his first three plate appearances to extend his national-leading total to 26. He stole third base in the fifth inning and was able to score on Dalesandro's sac fly to right field thanks to a good slide to the infield (front) side of the plate.
Milo @m1Beam, @NickDeli12 & Coach @Waz4412 discuss #Purdue's walk-off win to complete a sweep of Illinois. #BoilerUp https://t.co/ANqEZoJvvr
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 23, 2017
Illinois tied the game in the top of the eight on Engel's two-out infield single in the hole on the left side. David Craan scored the tying run after drawing a walk against Williams, stealing second and taking third when Learnard (3-0) induced a grounder to first base for the second out.
Dalesandro made strong catches on the move to his right to end both the seventh and eighth innings. The Fighting Illini had two men aboard when both frames can to an end.
Skyler Hunter singled in his final at-bat, a leadoff hit in the bottom of the eighth, to extend his reached base safely streak in Big Ten play to 15 consecutive games. He hit safely in every game of a weekend series for the fifth time this year and now has an eight-game hit streak overall.
The Boilermakers continue their 10-game homestand Tuesday against Fort Wayne. The midweek game was moved up a day due to thunderstorms in the forecast for Wednesday. First pitch Tuesday is set for 6 p.m. ET.