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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - No. 16 Michigan turned a trio of two-out triples into a pair of runs, defeating Purdue baseball 2-0 in a pitcher's duel Friday at Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers (26-22, 10-9 B1G) were shut out for the first time since Feb. 26 at Little Rock. After the Wolverines (37-12, 12-7 B1G) scored in the top of the first Friday, Purdue has now trailed for 22 consecutive innings dating back to the sixth inning of the May 7 loss vs. Northwestern.
Both starting pitchers put together quality starts. Big Ten strikeout leader Oliver Jaskie (7-2) fanned six and did not issue a walk over 6 2/3 innings of four-hit ball. The southpaw has worked 15 consecutive scoreless frames over his last two starts. Tanner Andrews (7-4) posted his sixth official quality start of the season, working seven innings of two-run ball in his best Big Ten start since the March 24 conference opener at Iowa.
Ross Learnard worked a 1-2-3 inning vs. Michigan's 1-2-3 hitters in the top of the eighth to extend his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 34. The southpaw has pitched 16 2/3 innings in Big Ten play without giving up a run. Nick Wojtysiak followed suit by striking out the side in order in the ninth inning.
Despite the loss, Coach @Waz4412 liked how his team competed tonight in the 2-0 pitcher's duel with #16 Michigan. https://t.co/KiWQosqz3L
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) May 13, 2017
Evan Warden singled three times, accounting for three of the Boilermakers' five hits. The third hit came with runners on first and second with two outs in the eighth inning. With the tying run at first base, Michigan had wisely positioned third baseman Drew Lugbauer on the line in a no-doubles defensive alignment. Lugbauer was able to keep the ball on the infield, preventing what could have been a game-tying double down the left field line.
Both teams made some excellent defensive plays. Purdue third baseman Hayden Grant made the most impressive play of the night, laying out to snare a line drive off the bat of Jonathan Engelmann in the third inning. The play prevented a run from scoring because Jake Bivens and Johnny Slater connected for consecutive two-out triples later in the frame to account for the visitors' second run of the game.
Michigan's Michael Brdar tripled into the right field corner with two outs in the first inning. He scored on a 2-2 wild pitch. Andrews retired Lugbauer, the Big Ten RBI leader, on a grounder to first base one pitch later.
Brdar also made two fine defensive plays at shortstop, robbing Nick Dalesandro of a two-out single in the fourth inning. But the more significant play came with Skyler Hunter at third base in the seventh inning. Jacson McGowan hit a sharp grounder to shortstop that reached Brdar on an in-between hop. He made the play seamlessly nonetheless to preserve the shutout.
The Boilermakers loaded the bases in the eighth inning against Michigan setup man Mac Lozer, who had allowed only six base runners (2 hits, 3 walks, 1 HBP) in 17 1/3 innings pitched entering the night. Freshmen Bryce Bonner and Milo Beam both drew walks in front of Warden's infield hit. Pinch runner Alec Olund was able to beat Lugbauer in a race to the third base bag. But U-M closer Jackson Lamb struck out Harry Shipley to leave the bases loaded. The fire-baller fanned three of the four batters he faced while earning his 11th save of the year.
Grant's #BTNStandout diving catch, double plays & strikeouts headline the highlights from tonight's 2-0 loss to U-M. https://t.co/6OmgrDAUai
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) May 13, 2017
Purdue turned a pair of inning-ending double plays with two men on base. Andrews induced a 4-6-3 twin killing in the bottom of the fourth. He gave up back-to-back singles to begin the seventh inning. But he regrouped and ended his outing on a high note via an infield fly pop up followed by a line-drive double play to Shipley at shortstop.
Andrews had surrendered just one triple in 70 2/3 innings entering the night.
Hunter tripled to left center with two outs in the seventh inning as the last batter Jaskie faced. Bonner's walk in the bottom of the eighth extended his reached base safely streak to 11 straight games. The freshman has reached safely in 12 straight games in Big Ten play.
The series continues Saturday at 6 p.m. ET.