IOWA CITY, Iowa – Iowa connected for a pair of key extra-base hits early in the game and also made a trio of highlight plays defensively, riding the momentum past Purdue baseball 9-1 Sunday in the rubber game of the weekend series.
Keaton Anthony hit a two-run homer in the first inning and Brendan Sher delivered a two-out, two-run double in the third inning, staking the Hawkeyes (28-16, 12-6 B1G) to a 4-0 lead.
In the top of the third inning with Mike Bolton Jr. on second base after a one-out double, center fielder Kyle Huckstorf and Sher at third base made consecutive highlight-reel plays to keep the Boilermakers (26-16, 7-9 B1G) off the scoreboard. Huckstorf made a diving catch in left center to rob Curtis Washington Jr. and Sher came up with a diving stop to take away a two-out RBI single from Evan Albrecht.
Sher made another fine play to retire Washington on a bunt up the third base line with a runner aboard in the fifth inning. Those three plays helped Ty Langenberg (5-1) limit Purdue to five hits over seven innings of one-run ball. He struck out seven while issuing only two free passes vs. 28 batters faced. Duncan Davitt struck out five of seven to close out the game.
Bolton broke up the shutout with a home run to right center in the seventh inning, connecting for his third long ball of the season.
Iowa blew the game open with a five-run third inning, scoring four-plus runs in a frame for the third day in a row. The Hawkeyes loaded the bases with no outs via a single and two walks. After Griffin Lohman struck out cleanup hitter Izaya Fullard, Purdue thought it had escaped the jam without allowing a run as Troy Viola turned a ground ball to third base into an inning-ending 5-3 double play. But as Viola fielded the ball standing on the bag, the third base umpire standing behind Viola ruled it a foul ball. Purdue head coach Greg Goff argued it should have been the home plate umpire's call to make.
Sher's at-bat continued with a 2-1 count and he drew a walk to force in a run. A run-scoring wild pitch and a pair of RBI singles followed.
Nolan Daniel struck out a career-high five vs. nine batters faced over 2 1/3 innings of one-hit relief. But he was the fifth of seven Boilermakers to take the mound, with Iowa already leading 9-0 when he took over.
Cam Thompson extended his on-base streak to 42 consecutive games with a walk in the fourth inning. Viola singled in his first at-bat to keep his on-base streak alive at 23 straight games. Washington was kept off base for just the second time this season, ending his on-base streak at 29 consecutive games. Evan Albrecht was also kept off base for the first time in Big Ten play, snapping his streak at 15 consecutive conference games.
The Boilermakers are back in action Tuesday when they host Butler at 6 p.m. ET. Eight graduating seniors will be recognized before the game, receiving their diplomas from university president Mitch Daniels.
Keaton Anthony hit a two-run homer in the first inning and Brendan Sher delivered a two-out, two-run double in the third inning, staking the Hawkeyes (28-16, 12-6 B1G) to a 4-0 lead.
In the top of the third inning with Mike Bolton Jr. on second base after a one-out double, center fielder Kyle Huckstorf and Sher at third base made consecutive highlight-reel plays to keep the Boilermakers (26-16, 7-9 B1G) off the scoreboard. Huckstorf made a diving catch in left center to rob Curtis Washington Jr. and Sher came up with a diving stop to take away a two-out RBI single from Evan Albrecht.
Sher made another fine play to retire Washington on a bunt up the third base line with a runner aboard in the fifth inning. Those three plays helped Ty Langenberg (5-1) limit Purdue to five hits over seven innings of one-run ball. He struck out seven while issuing only two free passes vs. 28 batters faced. Duncan Davitt struck out five of seven to close out the game.
Bolton broke up the shutout with a home run to right center in the seventh inning, connecting for his third long ball of the season.
Iowa blew the game open with a five-run third inning, scoring four-plus runs in a frame for the third day in a row. The Hawkeyes loaded the bases with no outs via a single and two walks. After Griffin Lohman struck out cleanup hitter Izaya Fullard, Purdue thought it had escaped the jam without allowing a run as Troy Viola turned a ground ball to third base into an inning-ending 5-3 double play. But as Viola fielded the ball standing on the bag, the third base umpire standing behind Viola ruled it a foul ball. Purdue head coach Greg Goff argued it should have been the home plate umpire's call to make.
Sher's at-bat continued with a 2-1 count and he drew a walk to force in a run. A run-scoring wild pitch and a pair of RBI singles followed.
Nolan Daniel struck out a career-high five vs. nine batters faced over 2 1/3 innings of one-hit relief. But he was the fifth of seven Boilermakers to take the mound, with Iowa already leading 9-0 when he took over.
Cam Thompson extended his on-base streak to 42 consecutive games with a walk in the fourth inning. Viola singled in his first at-bat to keep his on-base streak alive at 23 straight games. Washington was kept off base for just the second time this season, ending his on-base streak at 29 consecutive games. Evan Albrecht was also kept off base for the first time in Big Ten play, snapping his streak at 15 consecutive conference games.
The Boilermakers are back in action Tuesday when they host Butler at 6 p.m. ET. Eight graduating seniors will be recognized before the game, receiving their diplomas from university president Mitch Daniels.