WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – An early seven-run lead, a seven-run inning and seven straight zeros from the pitching staff added up to a Boilermaker Blackjack as Purdue Baseball blasted Michigan State 21-1 Sunday to complete a three-game series sweep at Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers (23-13, 8-4 Big Ten) have won seven consecutive games in Big Ten play, sweeping back-to-back conference weekends for the first time since 2018. Purdue has moved into a second-place tie in the standings with Michigan. Both teams are just a half-game behind Illinois (7-2 Big Ten). The Boilermakers play at Michigan and host Illinois for the final two weekends of the regular season in May.
Purdue outscored MSU 42-3 in the series, enjoying its most decisive series sweep in Big Ten play since the league went to three-game weekends in 2009. The 42 runs scored, three runs against and plus-39 scoring margin were all program bests in the three-game Big Ten series format. Previously, the Boilermakers surrendered just four runs in three-game sweeps in 2012 (vs. Illinois), 2017 (vs. Illinois) and 2018 (vs. Rutgers and vs. Michigan).
This weekend marked the first sweep (minimum three games) in the Purdue-MSU series since the Boilermakers brought out the brooms in East Lansing in March 2001. Purdue's 21 runs were its most in a Big Ten game since racking up 25 in a blowout win at Indiana in April 2006.
BEFORE SUNDAY, THE LAST TIME PURDUE…
• Swept a three-game Big Ten series at home: May 2018 vs. Michigan
• Swept a three-game series without trailing at any point: April 2018 vs. Rutgers
• Won seven straight games in Big Ten play: April-May 2018 (9 in a row)
• Scored 20 runs: March 2023 vs. Akron (23) in Holly Springs, N.C.
• Scored 20 runs in a Big Ten game: April 2021 at Illinois (20)
• Scored 20 runs at home: May 2018 vs. Purdue Fort Wayne (27)
• Pounded out 20 hits: April 2022 vs. Michigan
• Recorded 20 RBI: March 2023 vs. Akron (22) in Holly Springs, N.C.
Luke Gaffney, Jo Stevens and Breck Nowik all homered Sunday. Stevens hit his second homer of the series and finished the weekend with a team-high eight RBI. He's riding a career-best 11-game hit streak. Gaffney was 3-for-5 with his second five-RBI game of the season, finishing just a triple shy of the cycle. He had seven hits and seven RBI in the series. Nowik connected for his first long ball as a Boilermaker.
Thomas Green went 4-for-4 Sunday, joining Gaffney as Boilermakers with a four-hit game this season. Keenan Taylor was 3-for-4 with a career-high four RBI.
Mike Bolton Jr. reached base safely in all seven of his plate appearances, singling three times and getting hit by a pitch on four occasions. He also registered three RBI and scored four times. Coincidentally, Bolton was the last Boilermaker to reach base safely at least six times in a game, achieving the feat in February 2018 vs. South Dakota State. He was plunked seven times in the series with MSU (14-19, 3-6 Big Ten), finishing the weekend with a .786 on-base percentage after reaching base safely in 11 of his 14 plate appearances. With 32 career HBPs in Big Ten play, Bolton has eclipsed Harry Shipley's program record.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Carter Doorn – 18 consecutive scoreless innings at home; 15 consecutive scoreless innings in Big Ten play; 12 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings in all games
• Jo Stevens – 22-game on-base streak; 11-game hit streak; 15-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 5/18/23); 15-game on-base streak at home
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 15-game on-base streak; 7-game hit streak; 18-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 4/29/23)
• Luke Gaffney – 14-game on-base streak; 6-game hit streak; 12-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
• Connor Caskenette – 12-game on-base streak; 10-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
• Keenan Spence – 9-game on-base streak; 8-game hit streak in Big Ten play
• Couper Cornblum – 9-game on-base streak in Big Ten play; 89 consecutive games started (since start of 2023)
Carter Doorn (3-0) continued to shine by striking out four over four shutout innings of relief, giving Purdue at least eight outs in a scoreless appearance for the fourth straight weekend.
The Boilermakers truly blew the game open with seven- and six-run innings late against a beleaguered MSU bullpen. They've scored six-plus runs in an inning eight times this year. Chase Brown connected for an RBI double off the bench, his second pinch-hit RBI double in as many days.
Purdue continues its nine-game homestand Tuesday with a $3 midweek matchup vs. Ball State. The Boilermakers and Cardinals are both 23-13 on the season.
The Boilermakers (23-13, 8-4 Big Ten) have won seven consecutive games in Big Ten play, sweeping back-to-back conference weekends for the first time since 2018. Purdue has moved into a second-place tie in the standings with Michigan. Both teams are just a half-game behind Illinois (7-2 Big Ten). The Boilermakers play at Michigan and host Illinois for the final two weekends of the regular season in May.
Purdue outscored MSU 42-3 in the series, enjoying its most decisive series sweep in Big Ten play since the league went to three-game weekends in 2009. The 42 runs scored, three runs against and plus-39 scoring margin were all program bests in the three-game Big Ten series format. Previously, the Boilermakers surrendered just four runs in three-game sweeps in 2012 (vs. Illinois), 2017 (vs. Illinois) and 2018 (vs. Rutgers and vs. Michigan).
This weekend marked the first sweep (minimum three games) in the Purdue-MSU series since the Boilermakers brought out the brooms in East Lansing in March 2001. Purdue's 21 runs were its most in a Big Ten game since racking up 25 in a blowout win at Indiana in April 2006.
BEFORE SUNDAY, THE LAST TIME PURDUE…
• Swept a three-game Big Ten series at home: May 2018 vs. Michigan
• Swept a three-game series without trailing at any point: April 2018 vs. Rutgers
• Won seven straight games in Big Ten play: April-May 2018 (9 in a row)
• Scored 20 runs: March 2023 vs. Akron (23) in Holly Springs, N.C.
• Scored 20 runs in a Big Ten game: April 2021 at Illinois (20)
• Scored 20 runs at home: May 2018 vs. Purdue Fort Wayne (27)
• Pounded out 20 hits: April 2022 vs. Michigan
• Recorded 20 RBI: March 2023 vs. Akron (22) in Holly Springs, N.C.
Even with all the offensive fireworks in the series, the Boilermakers also excelled on the mound and defensively. Seven different pitchers teamed up for a streak of 19 consecutive scoreless innings from the seventh inning Friday through the seventh inning Sunday. The staff posted 24 zeros total. Purdue turned three double plays Sunday and five in the series – all of the ground ball variety. The Boilers are expected to enter the new week as the national leader with 42 twin killings turned this year.🔥 The energy & atmosphere at Alexander helped fuel the 🚂 all weekend in the 42-run sweep. #BoilerUp #AllAboard
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 15, 2024
🔜 $3 Midweek Matchup on Tuesday vs. Ball State pic.twitter.com/UyZMXMeByM
Luke Gaffney, Jo Stevens and Breck Nowik all homered Sunday. Stevens hit his second homer of the series and finished the weekend with a team-high eight RBI. He's riding a career-best 11-game hit streak. Gaffney was 3-for-5 with his second five-RBI game of the season, finishing just a triple shy of the cycle. He had seven hits and seven RBI in the series. Nowik connected for his first long ball as a Boilermaker.
Thomas Green went 4-for-4 Sunday, joining Gaffney as Boilermakers with a four-hit game this season. Keenan Taylor was 3-for-4 with a career-high four RBI.
Mike Bolton Jr. reached base safely in all seven of his plate appearances, singling three times and getting hit by a pitch on four occasions. He also registered three RBI and scored four times. Coincidentally, Bolton was the last Boilermaker to reach base safely at least six times in a game, achieving the feat in February 2018 vs. South Dakota State. He was plunked seven times in the series with MSU (14-19, 3-6 Big Ten), finishing the weekend with a .786 on-base percentage after reaching base safely in 11 of his 14 plate appearances. With 32 career HBPs in Big Ten play, Bolton has eclipsed Harry Shipley's program record.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Carter Doorn – 18 consecutive scoreless innings at home; 15 consecutive scoreless innings in Big Ten play; 12 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings in all games
• Jo Stevens – 22-game on-base streak; 11-game hit streak; 15-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 5/18/23); 15-game on-base streak at home
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 15-game on-base streak; 7-game hit streak; 18-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 4/29/23)
• Luke Gaffney – 14-game on-base streak; 6-game hit streak; 12-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
• Connor Caskenette – 12-game on-base streak; 10-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
• Keenan Spence – 9-game on-base streak; 8-game hit streak in Big Ten play
• Couper Cornblum – 9-game on-base streak in Big Ten play; 89 consecutive games started (since start of 2023)
Jonathan Blackwell retired eight of the 10 batters he faced over three scoreless innings. But he experienced some soreness in the bottom of the third. With Purdue already up 7-0 and the bullpen having only worked 3 1/3 innings over the first two games of the series, the coaching staff opted to replace Blackwell as a precaution.Here are my #Favor8s from the Game 3 win today against Michigan State and the weekend sweep for @PurdueBaseball .#BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/BoTaSKeHWC
— Top Row Pics (@TopRowPics) April 15, 2024
Carter Doorn (3-0) continued to shine by striking out four over four shutout innings of relief, giving Purdue at least eight outs in a scoreless appearance for the fourth straight weekend.
The Boilermakers truly blew the game open with seven- and six-run innings late against a beleaguered MSU bullpen. They've scored six-plus runs in an inning eight times this year. Chase Brown connected for an RBI double off the bench, his second pinch-hit RBI double in as many days.
Purdue continues its nine-game homestand Tuesday with a $3 midweek matchup vs. Ball State. The Boilermakers and Cardinals are both 23-13 on the season.
Put on a show Sunday for another big crowd at Alexander, including all our 4-legged friends. #BoilerUp 🐶 🧹 🐶 🧹@B1Gbaseball x @PurdueSports x @NCAAbaseball pic.twitter.com/E8ewMnWuHg
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 14, 2024