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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Harry Shipley's two-out RBI single in the ninth inning lifted Purdue baseball to its third walk-off win of the season, topping Saint Louis 4-3 Saturday at Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers (25-18) won their seventh straight game, improving to 7-2 in one-run affairs this year. Purdue has posted a pair of seven-game win streaks this season for the first time since 2012. After scoring in the first inning for the fifth time in the last seven games Saturday, the Boilermakers have not trailed for 57 consecutive innings dating back to April 19.
Milo Beam scored the game-winning run in a walk-off victory for the second time in the last week. Beam singled with one out in the bottom of the ninth. He stole second and took third when SLU catcher James Morisano's throw sailed into center field. Shipley hit a fastball from Ryan Lefner back through the box. Shortstop Alex King was able to get a glove on the ball behind the second base bag but couldn't come up with it cleanly, allowing Beam to score the deciding run.
Ross Learnard (4-0) only retired four of the seven batters he faced but managed to keep the game tied, extending his consecutive scoreless innings pitched streak to 28. The lefty induced and started an inning-ending 1-6-3 double play to erase a one-out walk in the ninth inning. He also recorded Purdue's only strikeout of the game, fanning SLU's No. 3 hitter Parker Sniatynski after giving up a one-out single in top of the eighth.
Highlights from today's 4-3 win vs. SLU. #Purdue clinched its 4th series win of April, most in a month since 2012. https://t.co/bxbSAeHEJ2
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 29, 2017
Shipley made a nice turn via a pirouette at second base on the 1-6-3 double play, one of three key defensive plays the shortstop made over the final two frames. He also demonstrated his range to prevent inning-opening infield hits in both the top of the eighth and ninth.
Saint Louis (24-16) scored all three of its runs via homers. King and Trent Leimkuehler both connected for a game-tying homer to left field. The Billikens have scored all five of their runs in the series on home runs into the left field bullpen.
Purdue starter Gareth Stroh worked six innings of four-hit ball, retiring 18 of the 23 batters he faced. After King's homer in the fourth accounted for the only two runs the lefty allowed, technically SLU did not have multiple base runners against Stroh in any of the six innings he worked. He's compiled a 2.57 ERA over 21 innings in his three starts at Alexander Field this year.
The Boilermakers had an opportunity to blow the game open early, but hit into bases-loaded double plays in the first and third innings. Jacson McGowan delivered an RBI single, Purdue's fourth straight hit, in the bottom of the first. Another run scored when Skyler Hunter grounded into a 4-6-3 twin killing in the third inning.
Harry @hShipley7 discusses #Purdue's walk-off win, salutes @PUSportsTurf for their work on the field this weekend. https://t.co/qQkkyJFgqW
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 29, 2017
Beam executed a squeeze bunt to give the Boilermakers the lead back in the fourth inning. Mike Madej scored after opening the frame with a base hit.
Nick Dalesandro (1-for-2, 2 walks) and Shipley (2-for-4, walk) both reached base safely three times in the win.
Purdue clinched its fourth series victory of April and its sixth of the season. The Boilermakers had not won four weekend series in a month since April 2012.
The series finale is slated for Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
Stopped by the park to pick up some @PurdueBaseball cards today and I got to see a walk off winner. #boilerup pic.twitter.com/IaH9jRQ4Q2
-- Dave Wegiel Photo (@pinolaphoto) April 29, 2017