WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Paul Toetz connected for a two-run double to reach the 30-RBI mark for the season and CJ Backer retired 16 of 19 batters faced in his best outing of the season, but UIC rode three pinch-hit singles to a four-run ninth inning and defeated Purdue baseball 6-4 Tuesday at Alexander Field.
Jake Jarvis blasted a 450-foot home run to center field in the bottom of the sixth, going deep for the second time in two games at Alexander this year.
Along with three pinch-hit singles in one inning, the game also featured four ground ball double plays turned by the Flames (8-8) and a pickoff in consecutive innings for the Boilermakers' starting pitcher Calvin Schapira.
UIC sent eight men to the plate in the top of the ninth, just one fewer than had batted in the previous three innings combined as Backer rolled through three consecutive 1-2-3 frames. Purdue (9-10) used three pitchers in the ninth, going to the bullpen initially after Backer surrendered an inning-opening single, only the second hit of the day he conceded. Breck Nowik, Ryan Nagelbach and Carson Roberts delivered the pinch-hit singles.
With runners on the corners and one out, the tying run scored on a squeeze bunt by 9-hole hitter Bobby Grimes, who beat out the bunt up the first base line to keep the line moving. After another pitching change, Roberts followed with a base hit through the right side to plate Nagelbach as the go-ahead run.
Peter Newton worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning vs. the bottom third of the Purdue lineup, capping a successful day for the UIC bullpen (4 2/3 IP, 5 H, R, 0 BB, K).
Backer struck out six over 5 1/3 innings, matching his longest outing as a Boilermaker. In his three outings vs. the Flames over the last two seasons, the junior has worked 13 1/3 innings of two-run ball, racking up 17 strikeouts vs. two hits and two walks.
With 31 RBI this season, Toetz has reached the 30-RBI mark by March 21. Going by date on the calendar, that's the fastest any Boilermaker has reached the benchmark. The second baseman already has eight multi-RBI games this season.
The Boilermakers had runners on the corners with one out in the bottom of the fifth when Zak Gould induced an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play. It was the timeliest of the four twin killings, keeping it a one-run game.
Albrecht enjoyed a three-hit game vs. UIC at Alexander for the second year in a row. He raised his batting average to .424 Tuesday with his fourth three-hit game of the season and 15th dating back to the start of last season. The shortstop also extended his on-base streak to 22 consecutive dating back to the end of 2022.
Bolton and Toetz both extended their on-base streaks to 11 consecutive games with their RBI hits in the third inning.
Purdue and UIC square off again May 10 in Chicago. The Boilermakers return to action Friday when they open Big Ten Conference play at Michigan State. First pitch in East Lansing is slated for 4 p.m. ET live on the Big Ten Network.
Jake Jarvis blasted a 450-foot home run to center field in the bottom of the sixth, going deep for the second time in two games at Alexander this year.
Along with three pinch-hit singles in one inning, the game also featured four ground ball double plays turned by the Flames (8-8) and a pickoff in consecutive innings for the Boilermakers' starting pitcher Calvin Schapira.
UIC sent eight men to the plate in the top of the ninth, just one fewer than had batted in the previous three innings combined as Backer rolled through three consecutive 1-2-3 frames. Purdue (9-10) used three pitchers in the ninth, going to the bullpen initially after Backer surrendered an inning-opening single, only the second hit of the day he conceded. Breck Nowik, Ryan Nagelbach and Carson Roberts delivered the pinch-hit singles.
With runners on the corners and one out, the tying run scored on a squeeze bunt by 9-hole hitter Bobby Grimes, who beat out the bunt up the first base line to keep the line moving. After another pitching change, Roberts followed with a base hit through the right side to plate Nagelbach as the go-ahead run.
Peter Newton worked a 1-2-3 ninth inning vs. the bottom third of the Purdue lineup, capping a successful day for the UIC bullpen (4 2/3 IP, 5 H, R, 0 BB, K).
Backer struck out six over 5 1/3 innings, matching his longest outing as a Boilermaker. In his three outings vs. the Flames over the last two seasons, the junior has worked 13 1/3 innings of two-run ball, racking up 17 strikeouts vs. two hits and two walks.
Down 2-0 in the bottom of the third, Purdue strung together three consecutive two-out hits to take a lead it held until the ninth. Mike Bolton Jr. delivered an RBI single to the opposite field, Evan Albrecht followed with the first of his three hits and Toetz plated both runners with a double to wall in left.More @PurdueStein scenes of action at Alexander. #BoilerUp 📸 pic.twitter.com/qvJugfV9Ob
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) March 21, 2023
With 31 RBI this season, Toetz has reached the 30-RBI mark by March 21. Going by date on the calendar, that's the fastest any Boilermaker has reached the benchmark. The second baseman already has eight multi-RBI games this season.
The Boilermakers had runners on the corners with one out in the bottom of the fifth when Zak Gould induced an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play. It was the timeliest of the four twin killings, keeping it a one-run game.
Albrecht enjoyed a three-hit game vs. UIC at Alexander for the second year in a row. He raised his batting average to .424 Tuesday with his fourth three-hit game of the season and 15th dating back to the start of last season. The shortstop also extended his on-base streak to 22 consecutive dating back to the end of 2022.
Bolton and Toetz both extended their on-base streaks to 11 consecutive games with their RBI hits in the third inning.
Purdue and UIC square off again May 10 in Chicago. The Boilermakers return to action Friday when they open Big Ten Conference play at Michigan State. First pitch in East Lansing is slated for 4 p.m. ET live on the Big Ten Network.
Midweek scenes from Alexander via the return of @PurdueStein. #BoilerUp 📸 pic.twitter.com/KrcTjpJs1X
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) March 21, 2023