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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Gareth Stroh pitched 6 1/3 innings of two-run ball in his longest outing of the season and Purdue baseball scored multiple runs in three of the first four frames to defeat Rutgers 9-4 Saturday at Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers (23-16, 9-4 B1G) won their seventh consecutive game and fifth straight in Big Ten play. The conference win streak is the program's longest since winning seven straight in April of the 2012 Big Ten championship season. Purdue has clinched its sixth victorious weekend of the year.
Ben Nisle opened the scoring with a two-out RBI single in the first inning and later stole home in the frame with a left-hander on the mound for the Scarlet Knights (22-17, 6-8 B1G). Alec Olund and Nick Dalesandro both posted their second three-hit games of the week. Jacson McGowan reached base safely four times for the second game in a row. Rutgers has retired him only once in nine plate appearances in the series. Dalesandro has been on base safely seven times in nine plate appearances in the series.
Dalton Parker struck out Rutgers' 2-3-4 hitters in order in the ninth inning to close out the win.
Full highlights from #Purdue's 9-4 win Saturday to clinch a series win vs. Rutgers. The #Boilermakers have won a season-high 7 straight. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/umcLioW6n8
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 29, 2018
SATURDAY NOTABLES
The Boilermakers have not trailed at the end of a full inning for 39 consecutive frames dating back to the seventh inning of the April 22 win at Maryland.
Purdue has outscored the opposition 13-2 over the first three innings of its four games at home this week.
The seven-game win streak is a season-long surge. The Boilermakers have recorded win streaks of at least seven games in consecutive years for the first time since 2011 and 2012. The 2012 championship season was also the last time Purdue had a win streak longer than seven games.
Harry Shipley extended a pair of double-figure streaks with an infield single in the second inning. He has hit safely in 12 straight Big Ten games and reached base safely in 17 consecutive games overall.
Dalesandro and Olund are both 9-for-15 this week. Skyler Hunter and Olund have not struck out in 15 at-bats over the first four games of Purdue's long homestand.
McGowan has reached base safely at least twice in 10 consecutive games. Dalesandro is riding a 13-game reached base safely streak.
Hunter walked in each of the first two innings. The sophomore has a 116 hits in 93 career games as a Boilermaker, but Saturday was only his second multi-walk game. The Boilermakers went to score multiple runs in both frames that he drew a base on balls.
Alec Olund & Coach Waz discuss Purdue's 9-4 win vs. Rutgers on Saturday at Alexander. The Boilermakers have not trailed this week, outscoring the opposition 13-2 over the first 3 innings of the 4 games. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/KMGjPDfhgU
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 29, 2018
Stroh (5-2) escaped a bases-loaded jam in the second inning after being staked to an early 3-0 lead. He retired Rutgers' 8-9-1 hitters in order after the visitors loaded the bases with no outs. He recorded his third and final strikeout for the second out of the frame. The lefty retired six consecutive batters late in his outing before giving way to the bullpen following a one-out single in the seventh inning. He did not walk a batter on his third and final trip through the lineup.
Purdue has won eight of Stroh's 11 starts this season and 17 of 26 in his two seasons as a Boilermaker.
Third baseman Evan Warden and McGowan (at first) both made fine defensive plays to aid Stroh's cause. Warden's diving stop in the hole prevented a possible RBI single after the Scarlet Knights had gotten on the board via an RBI double in the top of the third. McGowan helped erase a leadoff walk the following frame, making a nice pick at first base and strong throw to Shipley at second as part of a 3-6 double play.
Olund delivered a two-out, two-run single in the fourth inning to make Rutgers pay for walking McGowan to load the bases with no outs. In the seventh inning, Olund and Warden connected for consecutive doubles down the left field line. They're a combined 22-for-52 (.415) with six doubles, 12 RBI and 13 runs scored during Purdue's win streak.
The series finale is set for Sunday at 11 a.m. ET.
Nick Dalesandro posted his second 3-hit game of the week & has reached base safely in 13 straight games. Check out his postgame interview with BTN. #BoilerUP pic.twitter.com/FImJi4gaRD
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 29, 2018