COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Boilermaker bullpen worked five innings of one-hit relief and Purdue baseball scored five times with two outs in the top of the sixth to even its weekend series with Ohio State via an 8-2 victory Saturday.
The Boilermakers (30-17, 14-5 B1G) moved into a tie for second place in the Big Ten standings with Michigan, remaining one game behind league-leading Minnesota (15-4 B1G). Purdue has reached the 30-win benchmark for the first time since its 2012 Big Ten championship season.
Harry Shipley cleared the bases with a three-run double in the top of the sixth after free passes to Milo Beam and Tyler Powers forced in runs and extended the frame. The big inning came on the heels of the Buckeyes (32-17, 12-8 B1G) scoring just once after loading the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fifth. Reliever Trent Johnson induced a ground ball to third base that Evan Warden turned into a 5-3 double play. A run scored on the play, but Dalton Parker (3-0) finished the frame with a strikeout to allow Purdue to maintain the lead at 3-2.
Beam made his first start since April 6 due to Alec Olund's one-game suspension for spiking his helmet during an argument with an umpire in the ninth inning of Friday's loss. Beam threw out a runner at the plate from left field to end the third inning, recording his second career outfield assist.
Full highlights from #Purdue's 8-2 win at Ohio State on Saturday to even the series. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/HhGpj3fKNe
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) May 12, 2018
Ben Nisle recorded three hits and a sac bunt while also scoring twice. He had a productive plate appearance in all three innings in which the Boilermakers scored. The freshman is 7-for-16 with eight RBI and no strikeouts over the last five games. Skyler Hunter (2-for-4 with a walk) also reached base safely three times and scored twice. He reached base safely to begin the fourth and sixth innings. Purdue went on to score multiple runs in both frames.
Matt Moore closed out the win by retiring nine of the 10 batters he faced over three innings of hitless relief, earning his first collegiate save.
The Boilermakers scored at least four runs in an inning for the eighth time in the last six games. They have posted a five-run rally in each of their last five wins.
With Beam on deck and two outs in the top of the sixth, OSU starter Ryan Feltner (4-4) appeared to pitch around Warden to load the bases. Beam was down in the count 0-2 when a pitch him in the right leg to force home Hunter as the first run of the frame. After a pitching change, Powers drew a five-pitch walk to force home Nisle. Shipley put together a long at-bat against right-handed sidearmer Kyle Michalik, eventually connecting for the three-run double into the right field corner. Shipley has 11 RBI in Purdue's four games this week.
Ben Nisle discusses the key moments in #Purdue's 8-2 win Saturday at Ohio State. He had 3 hits in the victory & is 7-for-16 with 8 RBI & no strikeouts in the last 5 games. BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/JPdal8rZ0q
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) May 12, 2018
A leadoff home run in the second inning was the only run starter Gareth Stroh surrendered while he was on the mound. He gave way to Johnson with a 1-2 count on OSU's No. 2 hitter Kobie Foppe after consecutive singles to open the bottom of the fifth.
Evan Kennedy delivered an RBI single in the fourth inning to give the Boilermakers the lead back. Jacson McGowan scored on a passed ball moments later. It was a key play because Feltner struck out the next two batters.
Hunter extended his season-long reached base safely streak to 15 consecutive games, but Nick Dalesandro's 20-game reached safely streak came to end. Nisle has reached safely in nine straight games.
Sunday's rubber game is slated for a 1 p.m. ET first pitch.