WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Punctuated by its second six-run frame of the weekend, Purdue baseball scored in five consecutive innings to roll past Michigan 12-4 in game 1 of a doubleheader split Sunday at Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers (25-14, 6-7) won the series to remain among the top eight in the Big Ten Tournament chase before the Wolverines' lineup woke up to avoid the sweep, taking game 2 Sunday 13-2. It marked the first time a Purdue-Michigan series did not end in a sweep since April 2014 (in West Lafayette).
Wyatt Wendell gave the Boilermakers an elite outing on the mound, striking out eight over six innings of two-run ball in his best outing since March 20, another Sunday doubleheader Sunday at Alexander. He limited U-M (23-18, 9-6 B1G) to five hits and did not issue a walk. Wendell (4-2) struck out five of the first 10 batters he faced.
Troy Viola reached base safely five times in game 1, posting his second four-hit game of the season. Paul Toetz connected for a pair of RBI doubles, registering his second two-double game of the year. Mike Bolton Jr.'s leadoff triple – his Big Ten-leading fifth of the campaign – plated a pair and capped the scoring in Purdue's six-run sixth inning.
CJ Valdez connected for his first home run at Alexander and third of the season overall.
Curtis Washington Jr.'s two-out, two-run single opened the scoring in the second inning. It was the second of his three hits to go along with a walk and a run scored.
Thompson (39) and Washington (27) extended their on-base streaks in their final at-bats of the nightcap. Washington connected for a triple to center field in the eighth inning and Thompson led off the ninth with a single.
Griffin Lohman worked 3 1/3 innings of two-hit relief in the nightcap, his longest outing as a Boilermaker. But it was already 11-1 in favor of Michigan when Lohman took the mound with two outs in the fifth inning.
The Wolverines scored six times in the second inning and tacked on five more in the top of the fifth. Nine of those 11 runs scored with two outs. In the second inning, Michigan rallied after Troy Wansing got hit in the rear end by a sharp comebacker. Wansing remained in the game and posted a pair of zeros before departing in the fifth.
Purdue is idle from midweek action this week as the players take final exams on campus. Up next is a three-game series at Iowa as part of the team's first trip to Iowa City since March 2017. Friday's series opener is set for 7 p.m. ET.
The Boilermakers (25-14, 6-7) won the series to remain among the top eight in the Big Ten Tournament chase before the Wolverines' lineup woke up to avoid the sweep, taking game 2 Sunday 13-2. It marked the first time a Purdue-Michigan series did not end in a sweep since April 2014 (in West Lafayette).
Wyatt Wendell gave the Boilermakers an elite outing on the mound, striking out eight over six innings of two-run ball in his best outing since March 20, another Sunday doubleheader Sunday at Alexander. He limited U-M (23-18, 9-6 B1G) to five hits and did not issue a walk. Wendell (4-2) struck out five of the first 10 batters he faced.
Troy Viola reached base safely five times in game 1, posting his second four-hit game of the season. Paul Toetz connected for a pair of RBI doubles, registering his second two-double game of the year. Mike Bolton Jr.'s leadoff triple – his Big Ten-leading fifth of the campaign – plated a pair and capped the scoring in Purdue's six-run sixth inning.
CJ Valdez connected for his first home run at Alexander and third of the season overall.
Curtis Washington Jr.'s two-out, two-run single opened the scoring in the second inning. It was the second of his three hits to go along with a walk and a run scored.
Cam Thompson (38 consecutive games), Valdez (34), Washington (26) and Viola (19) all extended their on-base streaks in game 1, but Valdez saw his come to an end in the nightcap. Evan Albrecht was also held hitless in a Big Ten game for the first time this season, snapping his streak at 12. Michigan starter Chase Allen limited Purdue to four hits and seven base runners through eight innings of two-run ball.Sunday scenes from Alexander where the bats continue to produce. #BoilerUp @LexiEhle 📸
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) May 1, 2022
⚒️ @Paul_Toetz
🚂 @Cameront4224
💪 @WyattWendell13
⚒️ @_SteveRamirez pic.twitter.com/tWy3CuAuOr
Thompson (39) and Washington (27) extended their on-base streaks in their final at-bats of the nightcap. Washington connected for a triple to center field in the eighth inning and Thompson led off the ninth with a single.
Griffin Lohman worked 3 1/3 innings of two-hit relief in the nightcap, his longest outing as a Boilermaker. But it was already 11-1 in favor of Michigan when Lohman took the mound with two outs in the fifth inning.
The Wolverines scored six times in the second inning and tacked on five more in the top of the fifth. Nine of those 11 runs scored with two outs. In the second inning, Michigan rallied after Troy Wansing got hit in the rear end by a sharp comebacker. Wansing remained in the game and posted a pair of zeros before departing in the fifth.
Purdue is idle from midweek action this week as the players take final exams on campus. Up next is a three-game series at Iowa as part of the team's first trip to Iowa City since March 2017. Friday's series opener is set for 7 p.m. ET.
Smiles all across Alexander after winning game 1 Sunday to take the series. #BoilerUp @Ryan_Long_01 📸
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) May 1, 2022
😃 @Hildebrand_10 & @CarterDoorn
🙂 @Troy_Viola08
😁 @Swaggyc5
😎 @Patrick_Clohisy & @T_Haston27 pic.twitter.com/Xs1DEZyWdB