Saturday Update: Game 2 of the series has been moved back to 6 p.m. ET due to rain in the forecast.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Mike Bolton Jr.'s league-leading fourth triple led to the tying run in the eighth inning but Illinois answered with a pair of homers in the bottom half of the frame as part of a seven-run rally, defeating No. 16 Purdue baseball 8-1 Friday in the series opener.
It was a 1-0 game entering the eighth after lefthanders Jackson Smeltz and Cole Kirschsieper were both effective as the Friday night starters. Smeltz surrendered only one hit over five innings, but it was a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the fourth after a pair of walks. He retired the Illini's first 11 batters of the game in order.
Kirschsieper struck out nine over seven shutout innings, surrendering just three singles in a 114-pitch outing.
Bolton tripled to the wall in left center with one out in the top of the eighth, extending his on-base streak to 22 consecutive games. He scored when left fielder Cam McDonald made a diving catch in foul territory moments later, with the fly ball off the bat of Curtis Washington Jr. going for a sacrifice fly.
Cam Thompson (21), CJ Valdez (18), Evan Albrecht (13) and Washington (9) all extended their on-base streaks along with Bolton. But Thompson's RBI streak came to an end at 13 consecutive games. It was the longest by a Purdue player in the last 20 years.
The Boilermakers have dropped consecutive games for the first time this season.
The series continues Saturday. First pitch of the middle game has been moved back to 6 p.m. ET due to rain in forecast.
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Mike Bolton Jr.'s league-leading fourth triple led to the tying run in the eighth inning but Illinois answered with a pair of homers in the bottom half of the frame as part of a seven-run rally, defeating No. 16 Purdue baseball 8-1 Friday in the series opener.
It was a 1-0 game entering the eighth after lefthanders Jackson Smeltz and Cole Kirschsieper were both effective as the Friday night starters. Smeltz surrendered only one hit over five innings, but it was a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the fourth after a pair of walks. He retired the Illini's first 11 batters of the game in order.
Kirschsieper struck out nine over seven shutout innings, surrendering just three singles in a 114-pitch outing.
Bolton tripled to the wall in left center with one out in the top of the eighth, extending his on-base streak to 22 consecutive games. He scored when left fielder Cam McDonald made a diving catch in foul territory moments later, with the fly ball off the bat of Curtis Washington Jr. going for a sacrifice fly.
But the Fighting Illini (11-12, 3-1 B1G) sent 11 men to the plate in the bottom half of the frame. The seven-run inning was the biggest of the season against Purdue (18-3, 1-1 B1G). Nine-hole hitter Cal Hejza was hit by a pitch on the first offering of the frame. After a failed sac bunt, Branden Comia connected for a two-run homer to left field. The rally continued and Taylor Jackson blew it open with a three-run blast to left before the Boilermakers were able to record the second out.⚡️ Lightning Strikes!! @Mike_Bolton01 goes gapping for his Big Ten-leading 4th triple. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/9NOfQvvRpi
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 2, 2022
Cam Thompson (21), CJ Valdez (18), Evan Albrecht (13) and Washington (9) all extended their on-base streaks along with Bolton. But Thompson's RBI streak came to an end at 13 consecutive games. It was the longest by a Purdue player in the last 20 years.
The Boilermakers have dropped consecutive games for the first time this season.
The series continues Saturday. First pitch of the middle game has been moved back to 6 p.m. ET due to rain in forecast.