ROUND ROCK, Texas – On a quiet day offensively, Purdue baseball was unable to overcome a pair of big innings after Nebraska scored at least five times early in both games of a neutral-site doubleheader on day 2 of the Big Ten season.
The Huskers (2-1) were victorious 7-2 and 10-0. They scored six times in the third inning of game 1 and five times in the second inning of the nightcap. Both games went final after seven innings. Game 1 was a scheduled seven-inning affair and the Big Ten is utilizing a 10-run rule after seven innings in the nightcap of doubleheaders this year.
Triples from Ben Nisle and Mike Bolton Jr. led to Purdue's only runs of the day, both coming in the sixth inning of game 1. Nisle tripled to right field for the second game in a row and scored on a sacrifice fly from Miles Simington. Bolton followed with a sinking line drive to left field. He also made third when Cam Chick came up empty on his diving attempt. Zac Fascia plated Bolton with an RBI ground out.
Purdue (1-2) recorded multiple triples in a game for the first time since an April 2019 rubber game win vs. Southeast Missouri State at Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers gave Nebraska five outs in the third inning of game 1. With the game still scoreless, Purdue had an opportunity to cut down the lead runner at third base for the second out of the frame. But the ball was dropped as Jaxson Hallmark slid into third after taking off on a ground ball to shortstop. After a hit by pitch loaded the bases, Max Anderson cashed in for Nebraska with a two-run single. A dropped fly ball in right field extended the inning again and Joe Acker followed with another two-run single, chasing Purdue starter Calvin Schapira.
Brice Matthews delivered the big hit of the big inning in the nightcap, a two-out, three-run double down the left field line. Matthews came through in the clutch after Nick Alvarado had struck out Hallmark, who registered four hits in game 1, for the second out of the frame.
Purdue pitchers issued 14 walks over the first six innings of the nightcap after walking just five Huskers over the first 16 innings of the series.
Nebraska's starting pitchers, Chance Hroch and Shay Schanaman, combined for 12 innings of two-run ball. Both right-handers began their outing with at least five consecutive zeros.
Eric Hildebrand enjoyed the most effective outing of the six Boilermakers to take the mound Saturday. He retired six of seven batters faced over two innings of one-hit relief in game 1, striking out three.
Nisle threw out a runner at third base from left field in the seventh inning of game 1 and made a diving catch on a sinking line drive in the final frame of the nightcap.
Purdue dropped both ends of a doubleheader for the first time since March 1, 2019, at Oral Roberts.
Sunday's series finale is slated for an 11 a.m. ET first pitch.
The Huskers (2-1) were victorious 7-2 and 10-0. They scored six times in the third inning of game 1 and five times in the second inning of the nightcap. Both games went final after seven innings. Game 1 was a scheduled seven-inning affair and the Big Ten is utilizing a 10-run rule after seven innings in the nightcap of doubleheaders this year.
Triples from Ben Nisle and Mike Bolton Jr. led to Purdue's only runs of the day, both coming in the sixth inning of game 1. Nisle tripled to right field for the second game in a row and scored on a sacrifice fly from Miles Simington. Bolton followed with a sinking line drive to left field. He also made third when Cam Chick came up empty on his diving attempt. Zac Fascia plated Bolton with an RBI ground out.
Purdue (1-2) recorded multiple triples in a game for the first time since an April 2019 rubber game win vs. Southeast Missouri State at Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers gave Nebraska five outs in the third inning of game 1. With the game still scoreless, Purdue had an opportunity to cut down the lead runner at third base for the second out of the frame. But the ball was dropped as Jaxson Hallmark slid into third after taking off on a ground ball to shortstop. After a hit by pitch loaded the bases, Max Anderson cashed in for Nebraska with a two-run single. A dropped fly ball in right field extended the inning again and Joe Acker followed with another two-run single, chasing Purdue starter Calvin Schapira.
Brice Matthews delivered the big hit of the big inning in the nightcap, a two-out, three-run double down the left field line. Matthews came through in the clutch after Nick Alvarado had struck out Hallmark, who registered four hits in game 1, for the second out of the frame.
Purdue pitchers issued 14 walks over the first six innings of the nightcap after walking just five Huskers over the first 16 innings of the series.
Nebraska's starting pitchers, Chance Hroch and Shay Schanaman, combined for 12 innings of two-run ball. Both right-handers began their outing with at least five consecutive zeros.
Eric Hildebrand enjoyed the most effective outing of the six Boilermakers to take the mound Saturday. He retired six of seven batters faced over two innings of one-hit relief in game 1, striking out three.
Nisle threw out a runner at third base from left field in the seventh inning of game 1 and made a diving catch on a sinking line drive in the final frame of the nightcap.
Purdue dropped both ends of a doubleheader for the first time since March 1, 2019, at Oral Roberts.
Sunday's series finale is slated for an 11 a.m. ET first pitch.