MINNEAPOLIS – A grand slam for the second night in a row, this time as part of a four-hit game for Miles Simington, powered Purdue baseball to another victory at Minnesota, winning 12-5 Friday.
Simington hit his second slam as a Boilermaker – and the fourth of the season for Purdue (13-24) – as part of a seven-run third inning, matching the team's biggest rally of the year.
Simington also doubled twice as part of his first four-hit game as a Boilermaker. Needing a triple for the cycle, he doubled into the right field corner in the eighth inning, but opted to pull up at second base as he was getting the stop sign from third base coach Greg Goff.
It was Purdue's second four-hit game of the series after Ryan Howe was 4-for-4 with a walk Thursday. Howe singled and walked three times Friday. He's been on base in nine of his first 10 plate appearances in the series.
GRAND SLAM NOTABLES
• With Jake Parr hitting Thursday's grand slam, the Boilermakers have hit a slam in consecutive games for the first time since Kyle Johnson and Kyle Wood did in it March 2016.
• Miles Simington became the first Boilermaker since Johnson with multiple grand slams. Johnson hit both of his in March 2016. Drew Madia (3 from 2009-10) was the last player to hit a slam in consecutive seasons as Simington has now done.
• Purdue's four grand slams this season are its most since also hitting four in 2008.
• Simington's slam Friday was an opposite-field blast to left field. Each of the Boilermakers' first three of the year had been to the pull-side of the field by the hitter.
Simington registered his fourth two-double game of the season and became the first Boilermaker since Zac Fascia in May 2019 to record three extra-base hits in a game. Fascia also homered and doubled twice as part of a four-hit effort in a win vs. Xavier.
Ben Nisle reached base safely twice in Purdue's seven-run third inning, igniting the rally with a leadoff single and drawing a walk in his second trip to the dish. Nisle later delivered an RBI double for the second night in a row. He has an RBI in four straight games and a hit in nine consecutive contests. Nisle's double was his ninth extra-base hit during his hit streak and team-leading 22nd of the year in 37 games.
Ricky Castro worked 3 1/3 innings of one-run relief, excelling as the first man out of the bullpen for the second Friday in a row. He struck out three while surrendering just two hits. Mason Gavre snared a line drive via a nice leaping grab at first base to help freshman lefty Joseph Whitman record the final out of the game.
Trent Johnson (3-5) posted a pair of zeros after Purdue registered its seven-run inning to go up 10-2, navigating the extended break while the Boilermakers sent 11 men to the plate. Purdue's all-time leader in strikeouts per nine innings recorded just one K through 5 1/3 innings Friday, his fewest in any start since 2018. The senior started an inning-ending 1-6-3 double play in the bottom of the second when he speared a comebacker.
Minnesota (4-28) scored all five of its runs on homers, three of which were of the solo variety.
Mike Bolton Jr. opened the game with a base hit and scored before Nisle came to the plate as the third batter of the night. Bolton stole second base to remain perfect on the season at 15-for-15, took third on a balk and trotted home on Skyler Hunter's RBI single. Bolton also doubled over the center fielder's head to knock in Purdue's fifth run of the seven-run third inning. The Boilermakers' leadoff man has reached base safely at least twice in 12 of his last 14 starts and leads the team with a .458 on-base percentage.
The four-game series continues Saturday with 3 p.m. ET.
Simington hit his second slam as a Boilermaker – and the fourth of the season for Purdue (13-24) – as part of a seven-run third inning, matching the team's biggest rally of the year.
Simington also doubled twice as part of his first four-hit game as a Boilermaker. Needing a triple for the cycle, he doubled into the right field corner in the eighth inning, but opted to pull up at second base as he was getting the stop sign from third base coach Greg Goff.
It was Purdue's second four-hit game of the series after Ryan Howe was 4-for-4 with a walk Thursday. Howe singled and walked three times Friday. He's been on base in nine of his first 10 plate appearances in the series.
GRAND SLAM NOTABLES
• With Jake Parr hitting Thursday's grand slam, the Boilermakers have hit a slam in consecutive games for the first time since Kyle Johnson and Kyle Wood did in it March 2016.
• Miles Simington became the first Boilermaker since Johnson with multiple grand slams. Johnson hit both of his in March 2016. Drew Madia (3 from 2009-10) was the last player to hit a slam in consecutive seasons as Simington has now done.
• Purdue's four grand slams this season are its most since also hitting four in 2008.
• Simington's slam Friday was an opposite-field blast to left field. Each of the Boilermakers' first three of the year had been to the pull-side of the field by the hitter.
Simington registered his fourth two-double game of the season and became the first Boilermaker since Zac Fascia in May 2019 to record three extra-base hits in a game. Fascia also homered and doubled twice as part of a four-hit effort in a win vs. Xavier.
Ben Nisle reached base safely twice in Purdue's seven-run third inning, igniting the rally with a leadoff single and drawing a walk in his second trip to the dish. Nisle later delivered an RBI double for the second night in a row. He has an RBI in four straight games and a hit in nine consecutive contests. Nisle's double was his ninth extra-base hit during his hit streak and team-leading 22nd of the year in 37 games.
Ricky Castro worked 3 1/3 innings of one-run relief, excelling as the first man out of the bullpen for the second Friday in a row. He struck out three while surrendering just two hits. Mason Gavre snared a line drive via a nice leaping grab at first base to help freshman lefty Joseph Whitman record the final out of the game.
Trent Johnson (3-5) posted a pair of zeros after Purdue registered its seven-run inning to go up 10-2, navigating the extended break while the Boilermakers sent 11 men to the plate. Purdue's all-time leader in strikeouts per nine innings recorded just one K through 5 1/3 innings Friday, his fewest in any start since 2018. The senior started an inning-ending 1-6-3 double play in the bottom of the second when he speared a comebacker.
Minnesota (4-28) scored all five of its runs on homers, three of which were of the solo variety.
Mike Bolton Jr. opened the game with a base hit and scored before Nisle came to the plate as the third batter of the night. Bolton stole second base to remain perfect on the season at 15-for-15, took third on a balk and trotted home on Skyler Hunter's RBI single. Bolton also doubled over the center fielder's head to knock in Purdue's fifth run of the seven-run third inning. The Boilermakers' leadoff man has reached base safely at least twice in 12 of his last 14 starts and leads the team with a .458 on-base percentage.
The four-game series continues Saturday with 3 p.m. ET.