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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Indiana broke a 1-1 tie with a seven-run fifth inning and went on to score in each of the final five frames, denying Purdue baseball a series sweep by taking the finale of the three-game set 14-9 Sunday at Alexander Field.
There were seven home runs hit in the game, including a pair of three-run shots for the Hoosiers (16-13-2, 4-4-1 B1G) in the fifth inning. Nick Dalesandro connected for a grand slam in the ninth inning to cap a three-hit, five-RBI performance. It was his first career homer at Alexander Field. Jacson McGowan and Bryce Bonner also went deep for Purdue (17-14, 5-4 B1G).
Indiana posted its first win in West Lafayette since 2009, snapping the Boilermakers' six-game home win streak in the series. Purdue fell to 1-6 on Sundays this season.
The Boilermakers issued 12 free passes, nine walks and 3 hit batters, to match a season high. Only four of those runners came around to score, but the free passes extended innings and provided IU with numerous scoring opportunities.
Entering the day, the Purdue bullpen had worked 11 1/3 scoreless innings over the last four Big Ten games. On this day, the Hoosiers scored 10 times over 4 2/3 innings against Boilermaker relievers. Additionally, two of the four runs charged to starter Mike Kornacker (1-1) scored after he left the mound in the top of the fifth when Luke Miller connected for a three-run homer. Craig Dedelow also hit his second home run of the series with two men board in the fifth inning.
Coach @Waz4412 & @NickDeli12 discuss today's loss to IU in a 14-9 slugfest. Game was tied 1-1 entering 5th inning. https://t.co/1UEMGO54L2
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 9, 2017
McGowan led off the bottom of the second with a long ball to left field, his second homer of the series and team-high fifth of the season. Bonner's leadoff homer in the eighth inning was the first of his collegiate career. He became the ninth Boilermaker to go deep this season.
Evan Warden was hit by a pitch twice Sunday, increasing his national-leading total to 20 and eclipsing Cameron Perkins' 2011 program record (19). It took Warden only 30 games to break the season record.
The Boilermakers scored eight times over the last two innings after IU starter Pauly Milto (2-2) limited them to just three hits over the first seven. The right-hander retired 20 of the first 24 batters he faced and did not issue a walk.
Harry Shipley delivered a two-run single in the eighth inning to chase Milto. Dalesandro followed with an RBI double. Free passes to Logan Poisall, Warden and Shipley loaded the bases in front of Dalesandro's grand slam, the first by a Boilermaker since Kyle Wood connected for a slam in the 2016 home opener vs. Louisville. With a career-high five RBI, Dalesandro joined Skyler Hunter as Purdue players with a five-RBI game this year.
Kornacker retired 10 of the first 11 batters he faced, giving up just a two-out home run to Matt Lloyd in the first inning during that stretch. Kornacker walked three batters in the top of the fourth, but picked off Lloyd at second base for a key out and then was able to escape the jam. But the only out he was able to record in the fifth inning came via a sacrifice bunt after a leadoff single.
Hunter was hit by a pitch in the eighth inning to extend his reached base safely streak to 21 consecutive games dating back to March 10. Warden has now been on base safely in 12 straight games, his second 12-game streak of the season.
The Boilermakers return to action Tuesday when they take on No. 2 Louisville in the Commonwealth of Kentucky.