CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Jake Jarvis homered as part of a five-RBI night to help No. 16 Purdue baseball overcome three notable deficits, but the Boilermakers were unable to pull even in an 11-10 loss at Illinois on Saturday.
Purdue (18-4, 1-2 B1G) trailed 5-1, 8-3 and 11-7 but managed to put the tying run on base in each of the final three innings. The Boilermakers pounded out a season-high 14 hits and scored seven of their 10 runs across the seventh and eighth innings.
Cam Thompson hit his team-leading seventh home run to open the second inning, going deep for the fifth consecutive weekend. He joined former teammate Ben Nisle (2021) as the only Boilermakers to accomplish that feat in the last 20 years. Thompson also extended his on-base streak to 22 consecutive games.
Evan Albrecht registered his team-leading seventh three-hit game of the season, raising his batting average to .431 to take over the Big Ten lead. He's 14-for-22 over the last six games and moved up to the 6-hole in the lineup Saturday after batting ninth in every game he had started this season. The senior has hit safely in seven straight games and reached base safely in 14 straight.
Representing the tying run after draw a one-out walk in the ninth inning, Curtis Washington Jr. was thrown out on a close play at third base on a base hit through the left side of the infield from CJ Valdez. The chopper deflected off the glove of Illini third baseman Branden Comia as he and shortstop Cal Hejza converged on the ball. Washington saw an opportunity to move into third base with one out and broke for third. But Hejza was able to make it to third in time to take the throw from left fielder Cam McDonald.
The Boilermakers sent nine men to the plate while scoring three times in the eighth inning, but left the bases loaded. They stranded 12 runners in the loss.
The Fighting Illini (12-12, 3-1 B1G) won the game by scoring in four of the first five innings and answering Purdue's rallies in the fourth and seventh innings. Illinois scored two in the bottom of the fourth after Purdue made it a 5-3 game. The home team later responded with a three-spot in the bottom of the seventh after the visitors cut their deficit to 8-7.
Valdez's RBI double in the seventh inning extended his on-base streak to 19 consecutive games. Mike Bolton Jr.'s 21-game reached base safely streak came to an end. Bolton was lifted for a pinch hitter in the fourth inning as the Boilermakers had five different players bat in the 1-hole in the lineup. Every Purdue position player that was available played in the game.
Eric Hildebrand gave the Boilermakers a key 1-2-3 inning vs. the 5-6-7 portion of the Illinois lineup in the eighth inning. It was Purdue's lone 1-2-3 frame of the night.
The series finale is slated for Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.
Purdue (18-4, 1-2 B1G) trailed 5-1, 8-3 and 11-7 but managed to put the tying run on base in each of the final three innings. The Boilermakers pounded out a season-high 14 hits and scored seven of their 10 runs across the seventh and eighth innings.
Cam Thompson hit his team-leading seventh home run to open the second inning, going deep for the fifth consecutive weekend. He joined former teammate Ben Nisle (2021) as the only Boilermakers to accomplish that feat in the last 20 years. Thompson also extended his on-base streak to 22 consecutive games.
Evan Albrecht registered his team-leading seventh three-hit game of the season, raising his batting average to .431 to take over the Big Ten lead. He's 14-for-22 over the last six games and moved up to the 6-hole in the lineup Saturday after batting ninth in every game he had started this season. The senior has hit safely in seven straight games and reached base safely in 14 straight.
Representing the tying run after draw a one-out walk in the ninth inning, Curtis Washington Jr. was thrown out on a close play at third base on a base hit through the left side of the infield from CJ Valdez. The chopper deflected off the glove of Illini third baseman Branden Comia as he and shortstop Cal Hejza converged on the ball. Washington saw an opportunity to move into third base with one out and broke for third. But Hejza was able to make it to third in time to take the throw from left fielder Cam McDonald.
The Boilermakers sent nine men to the plate while scoring three times in the eighth inning, but left the bases loaded. They stranded 12 runners in the loss.
Jarvis hit a two-out, three-run homer in the seventh inning. He also delivered a two-run double with the bases loaded in the fourth inning, chasing Illinois' starter.💣💣 Away @JakeJarviss!!
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 3, 2022
3-Run Blast & the Boilers are right back in it!! #BoilerUp 💥
5⃣-RBI night for Jarvis, who's halfway to the Cycle
T-7th: Illinois 8, #Purdue 7
Live Stats: https://t.co/bMuWzPPZ2C pic.twitter.com/HjbUNFKasc
The Fighting Illini (12-12, 3-1 B1G) won the game by scoring in four of the first five innings and answering Purdue's rallies in the fourth and seventh innings. Illinois scored two in the bottom of the fourth after Purdue made it a 5-3 game. The home team later responded with a three-spot in the bottom of the seventh after the visitors cut their deficit to 8-7.
Valdez's RBI double in the seventh inning extended his on-base streak to 19 consecutive games. Mike Bolton Jr.'s 21-game reached base safely streak came to an end. Bolton was lifted for a pinch hitter in the fourth inning as the Boilermakers had five different players bat in the 1-hole in the lineup. Every Purdue position player that was available played in the game.
Eric Hildebrand gave the Boilermakers a key 1-2-3 inning vs. the 5-6-7 portion of the Illinois lineup in the eighth inning. It was Purdue's lone 1-2-3 frame of the night.
The series finale is slated for Sunday at 2 p.m. ET.