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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Butler scored all four of its runs on a pair of early homers while holding Purdue baseball without a hit, winning the matchup of the Midwest's most-improved teams 4-2 Wednesday at Alexander Field.
The Bulldogs (28-17) held the lead all night after Michael Hartnagel connected for a three-run homer in the top of the first. Gehrig Parker connected for a solo shot two innings later, and even though Butler had just one hit after that, the early held up.
The Bulldogs had five pitchers team up on the combined no-hitter. Quentin Miller retired all six batters he faced over two scoreless innings. Closer Ottavio Dattolo hit the first two batters he faced and gave up a sacrifice fly, but managed to retire the Boilermakers' final six batters of the game to close out the win.
Butler second baseman Zach Jarosz made a pair of strong defensive plays on balls up the middle to preserve the no-hitter, robbing Evan Warden in the third inning and Mike Madej in the bottom of the seventh.
Head coach Mark Wasikowski discusses #Purdue's 4-2 loss to Butler tonight. Better days ahead but lots of work to do. https://t.co/Pmfjukm68R
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) May 11, 2017
Purdue (26-21) scored its runs on a second-inning wild pitch and an eighth-inning sacrifice fly, but stranded six runners on base in the loss. Down 4-1 in the bottom of the eighth, the Boilermakers loaded the bases via three consecutive hit batters to bring the go-ahead run to the plate. But Dattolo retired Purdue's 3-4-5 hitters in order. Skyler Hunter's one-out line drive turned into a sac fly after it was caught by the right fielder.
Purdue recently had a streak of 57 consecutive innings without trailing. It ended in the first inning of Friday's 7-2 loss to Northwestern. While losing three of their last four, the Boilermakers have now trailed for 24 of the last 39 innings.
Ross Learnard pitched over a leadoff single, balk and an error while working a scoreless eighth inning. It was his 33rd consecutive scoreless inning dating back to March 11.
Cameron Williams struck out Butler's 5-6-7 hitters in order in the top of the seventh. Hunter Wolfe and Dalton Parker also worked a 1-2-3 inning.
The game featured an 85-minute lightning delay, which went into effect in the middle of the sixth moments after Hartnagel had lined into an inning-ending 5-3 double play.
Madej was the only Boilermaker to reach base twice. He drew a one-out walk vs. Butler starter Sam Hubbe (1-0) in the second inning. After taking second on a ground out to third base, Madej alertly moved into third on a pitch in the dirt. He scored moments later when Hubbe uncorked a true wild pitch.
The Bulldogs retired 13 consecutive Purdue batters from the second through sixth innings. Hunter reached on an error by Jarosz to begin the bottom of the seventh. But the second baseman made up for the error with his diving stop on the ball hit back through the box by Madej, recording a force out at second.
The Boilermakers' 13-game homestand continues Friday when they open a three-game weekend series against No. 16 Michigan. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. ET.
#Purdue highlights from tonight's 4-2 loss to Butler at Alexander Field. Thanks to @MTCSportsNet for work on webcast https://t.co/EngzYKiOfg
-- Purdue Video 🎥 (@purduevideo) May 11, 2017