WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Iowa's consecutive four-run frames across the fifth and sixth innings allowed the visitors to surge ahead and ultimately take the rubber game of the weekend series with Purdue Baseball 9-6 Sunday at Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers (16-9, 1-2 Big Ten) closed out their season-long 13-game homestand with a 8-5 record, dropping four of the last five after a 7-1 start. They committed a season-high four errors Sunday after making just nine over the first 12 games of the homestand.
Jonathan Blackwell was solid through four innings, limiting the Hawkeyes (13-10, 2-1 Big Ten) to one run on four hits. But Iowa scored nine times against the Purdue bullpen. Carter Doorn's three innings of hitless relief finally stabilized things. But by the time Doorn took the mound with a runner on second in the seventh inning, the visitors had already opened up a 9-3 lead.
The Hawkeyes limited the Boilers to just nine hits over the final two games of the series after the home team won Friday's Big Ten opener 10-3.
Keenan Spence connected for a 415-foot home run off the videoboard in the eighth inning, his second extra-base hit of the day and fifth home run of the season to grab a share of the team lead. Ty Gill connected for an opposite-field double in front of Spence's homer.
Spence's RBI double opened the scoring in the bottom of the third, trading places with his countryman Jo Stevens after a leadoff walk to open the frame. Spence later scored on a squeeze bunt when Iowa starter Marcus Morgan tried to barehand the comebacker.
Down 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth, the Boilermakers loaded the bases with one out but scored just one run via a walk to Connor Caskenette. The Hawkeyes responded with five consecutive hits the following frame to extend their lead.
Iowa leadoff man Andy Nelson delivered the big hits in both big innings, a three-run homer into the left field bullpen in the fifth and two-run double to left field the following frame. Both times Ben Wilmes and Michael Seeger set the stage with consecutive hits from the bottom of the lineup in front of Nelson.
Purdue plays its next four games – and seven of eight -- on the road. First up is Tuesday's game at Indiana State as the front end of a midweek home-and-home series. First pitch in Terre Haute is set for 4 p.m. ET.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Camden Gasser – 23-game on-base streak (every game he's played in 2024)
• Jo Stevens – 11-game on-base streak (10-game hit streak snapped)
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 9-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 4/29/23)
The Boilermakers (16-9, 1-2 Big Ten) closed out their season-long 13-game homestand with a 8-5 record, dropping four of the last five after a 7-1 start. They committed a season-high four errors Sunday after making just nine over the first 12 games of the homestand.
Jonathan Blackwell was solid through four innings, limiting the Hawkeyes (13-10, 2-1 Big Ten) to one run on four hits. But Iowa scored nine times against the Purdue bullpen. Carter Doorn's three innings of hitless relief finally stabilized things. But by the time Doorn took the mound with a runner on second in the seventh inning, the visitors had already opened up a 9-3 lead.
The Hawkeyes limited the Boilers to just nine hits over the final two games of the series after the home team won Friday's Big Ten opener 10-3.
Keenan Spence connected for a 415-foot home run off the videoboard in the eighth inning, his second extra-base hit of the day and fifth home run of the season to grab a share of the team lead. Ty Gill connected for an opposite-field double in front of Spence's homer.
Spence's RBI double opened the scoring in the bottom of the third, trading places with his countryman Jo Stevens after a leadoff walk to open the frame. Spence later scored on a squeeze bunt when Iowa starter Marcus Morgan tried to barehand the comebacker.
Down 5-2 in the bottom of the fifth, the Boilermakers loaded the bases with one out but scored just one run via a walk to Connor Caskenette. The Hawkeyes responded with five consecutive hits the following frame to extend their lead.
Iowa leadoff man Andy Nelson delivered the big hits in both big innings, a three-run homer into the left field bullpen in the fifth and two-run double to left field the following frame. Both times Ben Wilmes and Michael Seeger set the stage with consecutive hits from the bottom of the lineup in front of Nelson.
Purdue plays its next four games – and seven of eight -- on the road. First up is Tuesday's game at Indiana State as the front end of a midweek home-and-home series. First pitch in Terre Haute is set for 4 p.m. ET.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Camden Gasser – 23-game on-base streak (every game he's played in 2024)
• Jo Stevens – 11-game on-base streak (10-game hit streak snapped)
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 9-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 4/29/23)
#4faves from the rubber match today against Iowa for @PurdueBaseball pic.twitter.com/uHJCFCoCzo
— Dave Wegiel Photo (@pinolaphoto) March 24, 2024