BLOOMINGTON, Ind. – Purdue baseball hit three home runs for the fifth time this season but it was Indiana that rode the long ball to a quartet of big innings, slugging its way past the Boilermakers 26-11 in Friday's series opener.
With a combined 37 runs, it was the highest-scoring game in the history of a series that dates back to 1888.
The Hoosiers (36-14, 13-6 B1G) connected for eight home runs, setting a team record at Bart Kaufman Field. Indiana scored at least four times in the first, fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Purdue (23-25, 10-9 B1G) scored six times in the top of the seventh. Thirty-one of the 37 runs were scored in the fourth through seventh innings.
Jake Jarvis, Paul Toetz and Sam Franco all went deep for the Boilermakers. Jarvis hit his ninth of the season, Toetz connected for his team-leading 10th. Franco hit his first home run at Purdue. Toetz also reached the 50-RBI mark for the season. He's riding a 12-game on-base streak in Big Ten play.
Jake Parr doubled twice to extend his hit streak in Big Ten play to 14 consecutive games, the Boilermakers' longest since 2009. Parr has also been on base in 22 consecutive games vs. all opponents.
Couper Cornblum singled and scored to extend his on-base streak to 15 consecutive games. He's also hit safely in eight consecutive Big Ten games. Cornblum made a leaping catch at the wall in the first inning to rob a two-run homer.
Connor Caskenette was kept off base for the first time since March 26, ending his 25-game on-base streak and 18-game hit streak.
Khal Stephen rebounded from a tough first inning to retire seven consecutive batters. The zeros he posted in 1-2-3 fashion in the second and third innings were the only scoreless frames of the night for the Purdue pitching staff.
Stephen struck out four, the last of which was his 100th K as a Boilermaker. He became just the ninth Purdue pitcher to reach the benchmark as a sophomore.
Indiana scored 16 two-out runs on 11 two-out hits. Hunter Jessee went deep twice in an eight-run sixth inning as one of seven IU players to connect for a home run. Six different Hoosiers had at least three hits.
Purdue has given up four or more runs in an inning eight times since April 30, with it happening at least once in five of the last six games. The Boilermakers have also not held a lead over the first three innings of a game since April 30.
Dating back to last year's Indiana-Purdue series in West Lafayette, the teams have combined for 98 runs over four games. A season ago it was the Boilermakers who were victorious in a one-sided series opener (17-0) before a rubber game decided the series.
Game 2 of the series is slated for Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.
With a combined 37 runs, it was the highest-scoring game in the history of a series that dates back to 1888.
The Hoosiers (36-14, 13-6 B1G) connected for eight home runs, setting a team record at Bart Kaufman Field. Indiana scored at least four times in the first, fourth, fifth and sixth innings. Purdue (23-25, 10-9 B1G) scored six times in the top of the seventh. Thirty-one of the 37 runs were scored in the fourth through seventh innings.
Jake Jarvis, Paul Toetz and Sam Franco all went deep for the Boilermakers. Jarvis hit his ninth of the season, Toetz connected for his team-leading 10th. Franco hit his first home run at Purdue. Toetz also reached the 50-RBI mark for the season. He's riding a 12-game on-base streak in Big Ten play.
Jake Parr doubled twice to extend his hit streak in Big Ten play to 14 consecutive games, the Boilermakers' longest since 2009. Parr has also been on base in 22 consecutive games vs. all opponents.
Couper Cornblum singled and scored to extend his on-base streak to 15 consecutive games. He's also hit safely in eight consecutive Big Ten games. Cornblum made a leaping catch at the wall in the first inning to rob a two-run homer.
Connor Caskenette was kept off base for the first time since March 26, ending his 25-game on-base streak and 18-game hit streak.
Khal Stephen rebounded from a tough first inning to retire seven consecutive batters. The zeros he posted in 1-2-3 fashion in the second and third innings were the only scoreless frames of the night for the Purdue pitching staff.
Stephen struck out four, the last of which was his 100th K as a Boilermaker. He became just the ninth Purdue pitcher to reach the benchmark as a sophomore.
Indiana scored 16 two-out runs on 11 two-out hits. Hunter Jessee went deep twice in an eight-run sixth inning as one of seven IU players to connect for a home run. Six different Hoosiers had at least three hits.
Purdue has given up four or more runs in an inning eight times since April 30, with it happening at least once in five of the last six games. The Boilermakers have also not held a lead over the first three innings of a game since April 30.
Dating back to last year's Indiana-Purdue series in West Lafayette, the teams have combined for 98 runs over four games. A season ago it was the Boilermakers who were victorious in a one-sided series opener (17-0) before a rubber game decided the series.
Game 2 of the series is slated for Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.