EAST LANSING, Mich. – Purdue baseball scored first and held an early 2-0 lead in both games, but Michigan State rallied late to win game 1 and generated three consecutive big innings in the nightcap to sweep the Sunday doubleheader 5-4 and 12-6.
Jonathan Blackwell struck out six over six-plus innings of two-run ball as the Boilermakers' game 1 starter, putting together his finest and longest outing of the season. Connor Caskenette connected for a two-run homer and two-run single in the nightcap, hitting his first home run as a Boilermaker as part of the four-RBI effort.
Purdue (10-12, 1-2 B1G) led 3-1 entering the seventh inning of game 1 and 2-0 going into the fourth inning of game 2. In the first game, the Spartans (13-8, 2-1 B1G) scored three times in the bottom of the eighth to take their first lead and then escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth. All 12 runs for MSU were scored across the middle innings of the nightcap as the home team erupted for four-, three- and five-run frames.
Michigan State scored three-plus runs in four different innings Sunday. The 2-3-4 portion of the lineup ignited three of the rallies and it was 3-4-5 that started the other.
While Purdue's bullpen was charged with 11 runs runs over 6 1/3 innings Sunday, Michigan State's relievers excelled to the tune of 10 2/3 innings of five-run ball. The Boilermakers didn't help their cause by committing six errors on the day – three in both games – after playing a clean game defensively in Friday's win.
Purdue lost both ends of a doubleheader for the first time since March 2021 vs. Michigan in Greenville, South Carolina.
Mike Bolton Jr. singled, drew a free pass and scored a run in both games, extending his on-base streak to 14 consecutive games. The senior was on base twice and scored a run in all three games of the series. He's been on base in 10 straight games in Big Ten play dating back to last season. Bolton now has the longest active on-base streak on the team after Evan Albrecht's 23-game run came to an end in game 1 Sunday. Paul Toetz's 13-game on-base streak was snapped in the nightcap. Couper Cornblum now has Purdue's second longest active streak at nine straight games.
The Boilermakers are back in action Tuesday when they visit Indiana State for the front end of a midweek home and home. First pitch in Terre Haute is slated for 5 p.m. ET.
The Spartans' comeback began with a pinch-hit, run-scoring double from Sam Busch in the bottom of the seventh after a leadoff single chased Blackwell. Jackson Dannelley regrouped and retired the next three hitters, striking out a pair, to strand the tying run at third.
A leadoff double, a failed pickoff at second base and a pair of intentional walks set the stage for the three-run bottom of the eighth for MSU that decided the game. Purdue initially cut down the tying run at the plate on a nice play by Jo Stevens at third base. But a four-pitch walk followed to force home the tying run. Busch then hit a 3-1 pitch into center field for a sac fly. And the additional insurance run the Spartans plated on an infield hit proved critical when Purdue loaded the bases with one out in the top of the ninth.
A leadoff, four-pitch walk to Cornblum and pinch-hit single from Camden Melvin ignited the ninth-inning rally. Bolton was hit by a pitch with a 2-2 count to load the bases. Albrecht hit a fly ball into right field and Purdue opted to not tag up the runner at third being down by two runs with RBI leader Toetz on deck. MSU closer Wyatt Rush walked Toetz on five pitches to move the tying run into third base, but was able to induce a game-ending pop out off the bat of Jake Jarvis to close out the game.
Purdue scored the game's first two runs on sac flies from Jarvis and Cam Thompson, capitalizing on leadoff singles from Bolton and Stevens. The Boilermakers put their leadoff man on base in five innings and went on score in four of those frames.
Blackwell faced only three batters in the second, fourth and fifth innings. He was able to work around a leadoff double in the bottom of the fourth when MSU botched a squeeze bunt, with Dillon Kark stumbling into home plate after losing his footing. An inning-ending 4-6-3 double play turned by Toetz and Albrecht erased a one-out single the following frame. Blackwell delivered consecutive strikeouts vs. the Spartans' 4- and 5-hole hitters to punctuate his fifth scoreless frame in the bottom of the sixth.
Game 2: Michigan State 12, Purdue 6
Caskenette's two-run single through the left side in the first inning allowed the Boilermakers to capitalize on early command issues for Nick Powers, after the lefty issued a leadoff walk to Bolton and plunked Albrecht.
Purdue starter Kyle Iwinski faced only 10 batters over the first three innings as he cruised in his first trip through the lineup. But MSU scored seven unanswered runs across the fourth and fifth innings.
The 2-3-4 combination of Mitch Jebb, Brock Vradenburg and Busch were a combined 5-for-7 with three extra-base hits, two walks and seven runs scored across the middle innings. Sam Franco made a nice running catch to take a likely three-run double from Jebb to end the fourth inning, accounting for one of the outs against that trio. However, they weren't alone in tormenting Purdue. Jack Frank also reached base safely in all three big innings; Bryan Broecker and Casey Mayes had two hits apiece during that stretch.
Busch's two-run homer in the fourth inning gave the Spartans' their first lead in the nightcap, accounting for the first long ball of the series.
Purdue managed to score in three straight frames across the sixth, seventh and eighth. But MSU's five-run bottom of the sixth had put the Boilermakers down 12-3.
Leadoff doubles from Jake Parr and Cornblum led to runs on two-out RBI singles from Melvin and Albrecht. Caskenette went deep to left field with Albrecht aboard in the top of the seventh.
Carter Doorn retired all four batters he faced, teaming up with Cal Lambert to pitch over a leadoff triple in the seventh inning.
Jonathan Blackwell struck out six over six-plus innings of two-run ball as the Boilermakers' game 1 starter, putting together his finest and longest outing of the season. Connor Caskenette connected for a two-run homer and two-run single in the nightcap, hitting his first home run as a Boilermaker as part of the four-RBI effort.
Purdue (10-12, 1-2 B1G) led 3-1 entering the seventh inning of game 1 and 2-0 going into the fourth inning of game 2. In the first game, the Spartans (13-8, 2-1 B1G) scored three times in the bottom of the eighth to take their first lead and then escaped a bases-loaded jam in the ninth. All 12 runs for MSU were scored across the middle innings of the nightcap as the home team erupted for four-, three- and five-run frames.
Michigan State scored three-plus runs in four different innings Sunday. The 2-3-4 portion of the lineup ignited three of the rallies and it was 3-4-5 that started the other.
While Purdue's bullpen was charged with 11 runs runs over 6 1/3 innings Sunday, Michigan State's relievers excelled to the tune of 10 2/3 innings of five-run ball. The Boilermakers didn't help their cause by committing six errors on the day – three in both games – after playing a clean game defensively in Friday's win.
Purdue lost both ends of a doubleheader for the first time since March 2021 vs. Michigan in Greenville, South Carolina.
Mike Bolton Jr. singled, drew a free pass and scored a run in both games, extending his on-base streak to 14 consecutive games. The senior was on base twice and scored a run in all three games of the series. He's been on base in 10 straight games in Big Ten play dating back to last season. Bolton now has the longest active on-base streak on the team after Evan Albrecht's 23-game run came to an end in game 1 Sunday. Paul Toetz's 13-game on-base streak was snapped in the nightcap. Couper Cornblum now has Purdue's second longest active streak at nine straight games.
The Boilermakers are back in action Tuesday when they visit Indiana State for the front end of a midweek home and home. First pitch in Terre Haute is slated for 5 p.m. ET.
Game 1: Michigan State 5, Purdue 4⚡️ A Laser to Left, making @Caskenette_ our 11th #Boilermaker to go deep this season. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/iF2qrn6ItQ
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) March 26, 2023
The Spartans' comeback began with a pinch-hit, run-scoring double from Sam Busch in the bottom of the seventh after a leadoff single chased Blackwell. Jackson Dannelley regrouped and retired the next three hitters, striking out a pair, to strand the tying run at third.
A leadoff double, a failed pickoff at second base and a pair of intentional walks set the stage for the three-run bottom of the eighth for MSU that decided the game. Purdue initially cut down the tying run at the plate on a nice play by Jo Stevens at third base. But a four-pitch walk followed to force home the tying run. Busch then hit a 3-1 pitch into center field for a sac fly. And the additional insurance run the Spartans plated on an infield hit proved critical when Purdue loaded the bases with one out in the top of the ninth.
A leadoff, four-pitch walk to Cornblum and pinch-hit single from Camden Melvin ignited the ninth-inning rally. Bolton was hit by a pitch with a 2-2 count to load the bases. Albrecht hit a fly ball into right field and Purdue opted to not tag up the runner at third being down by two runs with RBI leader Toetz on deck. MSU closer Wyatt Rush walked Toetz on five pitches to move the tying run into third base, but was able to induce a game-ending pop out off the bat of Jake Jarvis to close out the game.
Purdue scored the game's first two runs on sac flies from Jarvis and Cam Thompson, capitalizing on leadoff singles from Bolton and Stevens. The Boilermakers put their leadoff man on base in five innings and went on score in four of those frames.
Blackwell faced only three batters in the second, fourth and fifth innings. He was able to work around a leadoff double in the bottom of the fourth when MSU botched a squeeze bunt, with Dillon Kark stumbling into home plate after losing his footing. An inning-ending 4-6-3 double play turned by Toetz and Albrecht erased a one-out single the following frame. Blackwell delivered consecutive strikeouts vs. the Spartans' 4- and 5-hole hitters to punctuate his fifth scoreless frame in the bottom of the sixth.
Game 2: Michigan State 12, Purdue 6
Caskenette's two-run single through the left side in the first inning allowed the Boilermakers to capitalize on early command issues for Nick Powers, after the lefty issued a leadoff walk to Bolton and plunked Albrecht.
Purdue starter Kyle Iwinski faced only 10 batters over the first three innings as he cruised in his first trip through the lineup. But MSU scored seven unanswered runs across the fourth and fifth innings.
The 2-3-4 combination of Mitch Jebb, Brock Vradenburg and Busch were a combined 5-for-7 with three extra-base hits, two walks and seven runs scored across the middle innings. Sam Franco made a nice running catch to take a likely three-run double from Jebb to end the fourth inning, accounting for one of the outs against that trio. However, they weren't alone in tormenting Purdue. Jack Frank also reached base safely in all three big innings; Bryan Broecker and Casey Mayes had two hits apiece during that stretch.
Busch's two-run homer in the fourth inning gave the Spartans' their first lead in the nightcap, accounting for the first long ball of the series.
Purdue managed to score in three straight frames across the sixth, seventh and eighth. But MSU's five-run bottom of the sixth had put the Boilermakers down 12-3.
Leadoff doubles from Jake Parr and Cornblum led to runs on two-out RBI singles from Melvin and Albrecht. Caskenette went deep to left field with Albrecht aboard in the top of the seventh.
Carter Doorn retired all four batters he faced, teaming up with Cal Lambert to pitch over a leadoff triple in the seventh inning.