BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - No. 10 Indiana scored 14 unanswered runs after Purdue baseball only cashed in for a single tally from a pair of early bases-loaded opportunities, evening the rivalry series at a game apiece as IU was victorious 14-1 Saturday.
The Boilermakers' season-long six-game win streak came to an end. Purdue (15-11, 4-1 B1G) had not lost since March 23. The Hoosiers (21-6, 2-2 B1G) improved to 21-1 when scoring at least four runs this season.
Sunday's 3 p.m. ET rubber game will be televised live by the Big Ten Network.
The Boilermakers had the bases loaded with no outs in each of the first two innings. Nick Dalesandro's RBI fielder's choice in the top of the first plated their only run. Six of the 12 runners Purdue left on base Saturday were stranded over the first three innings.
Indiana starter Pauly Milto (5-2) was able to find his command after walking three of the first seven batters he faced. He retired nine consecutive batters from the third through sixth innings while working seven innings of five-hit ball, earning his third career win against the Boilermakers.
The game's momentum swung in the second inning. Purdue's 7-8-9 hitters all reached base safely to begin the top of the frame. But Milto retired Harry Shipley on an infield fly pop up and then induced an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play ball off the bat of Charlie Nasuti. Gareth Stroh (4-1) labored in the bottom of the frame, issuing three walks and hitting a batter. He was unable to pitch over an inning-opening error. A wild pitch and two-out, bases-loaded walk allowed the two runs to score as IU took the lead for good.
The Hoosiers blew the game open with a six-spot in the following frame. Ten of the 11 Hoosiers that batted in the inning had a productive plate appearance. Ryan Fineman and Matt Gorski connected for consecutive home runs to open the frame. Stroh had surrendered only two homers in 34 2/3 innings this season entering the day.
Indiana finished the game with eight extra-base hits, a big reason why the home side was able to score in five of the eight frames in which it batted.
Skyler Hunter recorded his 100th career hit in his 80th game as a Boilermaker with a two-out single in the third inning. The switch-hitting center fielder had two hits for the second day in a row. Shipley reached base safely at least twice for the ninth time in the last 10 games. Evan Warden also had a double and a walk Saturday.
Patrick J. Smith induced a pair of ground ball double plays while working 2 2/3 innings of two-hit relief in his longest outing as a Boilermaker. The left-hander accounted for Purdue's only 1-2-3 inning of the day.
Sunday the Boilermakers will be search of their first series victory in Bloomington since May 2010. The program hasn't won its first two series of Big Ten play since 2012.