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JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Four different Boilermakers each had a pair of productive plate appearances in a nine-run fifth inning and Patrick J. Smith struck out eight over six innings of one-run ball, leading Purdue baseball to a 9-5 series-evening win at Jacksonville State on Saturday.
The Boilermakers (4-13) sent 14 men to the plate in the fifth inning, posting their biggest inning since also scoring nine times in May 2018 win vs. Purdue Fort Wayne at Alexander Field. Saturday's rally was Purdue's most prolific on the road since a 10-run ninth inning in a May 2012 win at UCLA.
The only hits Smith allowed were a pair of infield singles. He posted five consecutive zeros after giving up a run on an RBI ground out in the first inning. Perhaps most importantly, he worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth after the Boilermakers took control of the game in the top half of the frame. The left-hander's eight strikeouts marked his career-high total at Purdue. He fanned the final batter of four different innings.
Nick Evarts, Bryce Bonner, Tyler Powers and Evan Albrecht all had two productive at-bats in the fifth inning. Evarts' three-run triple into the right field corner in his second at-bat blew the game open at 8-1. The senior also ignited the rally with a leadoff single.
Powers did not have an official at-bat during the rally despite putting the ball in play and driving in a run in both plate appearances. His sacrifice fly plated Evarts as the game-tying run. Evarts also scored on Powers' squeeze bunt.
Albrecht singled twice during the rally, delivering an RBI single up the middle in his first at-bat to give Purdue its first lead of the series at 2-1. Bonner singled and walked in the frame.
Evarts and Bonner did not start the game. They were inserted into the lineup at third base and catcher to begin the bottom of the third. Their at-bats in the fifth inning were their first of the game.
Cole McKenzie also had an RBI single in the fifth inning. He finished the game 2-for-5 to extend his team-long reached base safely streak to 11 consecutive games. Skyler Hunter singled in each of his first two at-bats and has hit safely in all seven games of spring break.
Purdue actually got the bullpen going in the second inning after Smith issued a leadoff walk in each of the first two frames. But he pitched through the early command issues and did not walk another batter until there were two outs in the sixth inning.
Eight consecutive Boilermakers put together a productive plate appearance in the fifth inning. JSU (9-11) issued three consecutive free passes to Owen Jansen, Zac Fascia and Johnny Sage to rekindle the rally for Purdue. A dropped throw at second on a potential inning-ending 1-6-3 double play also helped extend the frame.
Sunday's rubber game is slated for 2 p.m. ET. The Boilermakers have an opportunity to rally back a win a series after dropping the opener for the second weekend in a row.
JACKSONVILLE, Ala. – Four different Boilermakers each had a pair of productive plate appearances in a nine-run fifth inning and Patrick J. Smith struck out eight over six innings of one-run ball, leading Purdue baseball to a 9-5 series-evening win at Jacksonville State on Saturday.
The Boilermakers (4-13) sent 14 men to the plate in the fifth inning, posting their biggest inning since also scoring nine times in May 2018 win vs. Purdue Fort Wayne at Alexander Field. Saturday's rally was Purdue's most prolific on the road since a 10-run ninth inning in a May 2012 win at UCLA.
The only hits Smith allowed were a pair of infield singles. He posted five consecutive zeros after giving up a run on an RBI ground out in the first inning. Perhaps most importantly, he worked a 1-2-3 bottom of the fifth after the Boilermakers took control of the game in the top half of the frame. The left-hander's eight strikeouts marked his career-high total at Purdue. He fanned the final batter of four different innings.
Nick Evarts, Bryce Bonner, Tyler Powers and Evan Albrecht all had two productive at-bats in the fifth inning. Evarts' three-run triple into the right field corner in his second at-bat blew the game open at 8-1. The senior also ignited the rally with a leadoff single.
?? All the Hits!!
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) March 17, 2019
9?? runs on 6?? hits
4?? Boilers had a pair of productive plate appearances
8?? consecutive productive plate appearances
It was #Purdue's biggest inning on the road since a memorable 10-run 9th in a May 2012 win at UCLA. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/1OswwyYQAg
Powers did not have an official at-bat during the rally despite putting the ball in play and driving in a run in both plate appearances. His sacrifice fly plated Evarts as the game-tying run. Evarts also scored on Powers' squeeze bunt.
Albrecht singled twice during the rally, delivering an RBI single up the middle in his first at-bat to give Purdue its first lead of the series at 2-1. Bonner singled and walked in the frame.
Evarts and Bonner did not start the game. They were inserted into the lineup at third base and catcher to begin the bottom of the third. Their at-bats in the fifth inning were their first of the game.
Cole McKenzie also had an RBI single in the fifth inning. He finished the game 2-for-5 to extend his team-long reached base safely streak to 11 consecutive games. Skyler Hunter singled in each of his first two at-bats and has hit safely in all seven games of spring break.
Smith (1-1) retired 13 of 14 batters from the second through sixth innings. Six of those 14 outs came via the K. He worked consecutive 1-2-3 frames along the way. The senior earned his first win as a Boilermaker on Saturday..@PJ_Smith31 struck out a career-high 8 over 6 innings of 1-run ball & @NickEvarts had 2 hits in #Purdue's 9-run 5th inning. The seniors discuss the #Boilermakers' 9-5 win at Jacksonville State. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/g8PZ6N3UnS
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) March 16, 2019
Purdue actually got the bullpen going in the second inning after Smith issued a leadoff walk in each of the first two frames. But he pitched through the early command issues and did not walk another batter until there were two outs in the sixth inning.
Eight consecutive Boilermakers put together a productive plate appearance in the fifth inning. JSU (9-11) issued three consecutive free passes to Owen Jansen, Zac Fascia and Johnny Sage to rekindle the rally for Purdue. A dropped throw at second on a potential inning-ending 1-6-3 double play also helped extend the frame.
Sunday's rubber game is slated for 2 p.m. ET. The Boilermakers have an opportunity to rally back a win a series after dropping the opener for the second weekend in a row.
The 9-run Inning...
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) March 16, 2019
?? Evarts Leadoff Single
?? Bonner Single
1? Powers Sac Fly
?? Albrecht RBI Single
?? Hunter Safe on E6
?? McKenzie RBI Single
?? Jansen HBP
4? Fascia Walked
?? Sage HBP
?? Evarts 3-Run Triple
4? Bonner Walked
2? Powers Squeeze Bunt
?? Albrecht Bunt Single pic.twitter.com/VqbK8YHlOD