WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Luke Wagner surrendered just three hits over six innings for his second straight start at Alexander Field, but Illinois erupted for seven runs in the seventh inning to defeat Purdue Baseball 9-4 Friday on the penultimate day of the regular season.
The Fighting Illini strung together four of their eight hits in the top of the seventh, sending 10 men to the plate after also drawing two walks in the frame. The big blows were a go-ahead, two-run homer from Ryan Moerman and a grand slam from Camden Janik.
Illinois (32-17, 17-6 Big Ten) clinched at least a share of the Big Ten Conference title, its first since 2015. Nebraska (16-7 Big Ten) remains a game back and can still claim a share of the title with a victory Saturday at Michigan State coupled with a Purdue (33-21, 13-10 Big Ten) win over the Illini.
Wagner retired the first 12 batters he faced and 18 of 22 overall. He put together for his fifth quality start (6+ IP, 3 H, 2 R, BB, 2 K) of the season at Alexander Field, finishing his season with a 3.07 ERA and .268 batting average against in a team-high 41 innings at the home this year.
Purdue held leads of 1-0 and 2-1, carrying the lead into the seventh inning after cutting down the tying run at the plate in the top of the sixth. Catcher Connor Caskenette made the key play, ranging into the righthanded batter's box to take the throw from shortstop Thomas Green and getting the tag on Cal Hejza as Hejza's premature slide slowed him just enough to allow for the out. The Boilermakers had brought the infield in after Hejza's one-out triple to left center.
Mike Bolton Jr. connected for a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh, his fifth of the season and Purdue's first at Alexander since April 21.
Couper Cornblum and Caskenette connected for consecutive singles through the right side in the first inning to give the Boilermakers their first lead since holding a 6-5 advantage in the top of the seventh May 11 at Michigan. Caskenette registered his Big Ten-leading 69th RBI.
• Couper Cornblum – 11-game on-base streak; 9-game hit streak in all games; 9-game hit streak in Big Ten play; 107 consecutive games started (since start of 2023)
• Luke Gaffney – 7-game on-base streak; 6-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
The Illinois outfielders lost Ty Gill's fly ball to deep left center in the lights to open the bottom of the fifth. It went for a triple and Gill scored on a wild pitch.
Both third basemen accounted for web gems in the game, with the Illini's Coltin Quagliano taking a hit away from his counterpart, Jo Stevens, after a one-out double from Luke Gaffney in the fourth inning. Stevens made his diving stop to rob Hejza of a hit in the top of the ninth.
The best play of the night in the outfield came from Connor Milton, a running catch at the wall in center field to end the fourth inning as Green barreled up for a loud out with two on and two outs.
The series and regular season finale is slated for Saturday at 3 p.m. ET live on the Big Ten Network. Purdue's annual Senior Day ceremony is set for 2:30 p.m.
The Fighting Illini strung together four of their eight hits in the top of the seventh, sending 10 men to the plate after also drawing two walks in the frame. The big blows were a go-ahead, two-run homer from Ryan Moerman and a grand slam from Camden Janik.
Illinois (32-17, 17-6 Big Ten) clinched at least a share of the Big Ten Conference title, its first since 2015. Nebraska (16-7 Big Ten) remains a game back and can still claim a share of the title with a victory Saturday at Michigan State coupled with a Purdue (33-21, 13-10 Big Ten) win over the Illini.
Wagner retired the first 12 batters he faced and 18 of 22 overall. He put together for his fifth quality start (6+ IP, 3 H, 2 R, BB, 2 K) of the season at Alexander Field, finishing his season with a 3.07 ERA and .268 batting average against in a team-high 41 innings at the home this year.
Purdue held leads of 1-0 and 2-1, carrying the lead into the seventh inning after cutting down the tying run at the plate in the top of the sixth. Catcher Connor Caskenette made the key play, ranging into the righthanded batter's box to take the throw from shortstop Thomas Green and getting the tag on Cal Hejza as Hejza's premature slide slowed him just enough to allow for the out. The Boilermakers had brought the infield in after Hejza's one-out triple to left center.
Mike Bolton Jr. connected for a two-run homer in the bottom of the seventh, his fifth of the season and Purdue's first at Alexander since April 21.
Couper Cornblum and Caskenette connected for consecutive singles through the right side in the first inning to give the Boilermakers their first lead since holding a 6-5 advantage in the top of the seventh May 11 at Michigan. Caskenette registered his Big Ten-leading 69th RBI.
ACTIVE STREAKS#4faves from the 2nd to last @PurdueBaseball home game of the year tonight. pic.twitter.com/QeTMyc1QEd
— Dave Wegiel Photo (@pinolaphoto) May 18, 2024
• Couper Cornblum – 11-game on-base streak; 9-game hit streak in all games; 9-game hit streak in Big Ten play; 107 consecutive games started (since start of 2023)
• Luke Gaffney – 7-game on-base streak; 6-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
The Illinois outfielders lost Ty Gill's fly ball to deep left center in the lights to open the bottom of the fifth. It went for a triple and Gill scored on a wild pitch.
Both third basemen accounted for web gems in the game, with the Illini's Coltin Quagliano taking a hit away from his counterpart, Jo Stevens, after a one-out double from Luke Gaffney in the fourth inning. Stevens made his diving stop to rob Hejza of a hit in the top of the ninth.
The best play of the night in the outfield came from Connor Milton, a running catch at the wall in center field to end the fourth inning as Green barreled up for a loud out with two on and two outs.
The series and regular season finale is slated for Saturday at 3 p.m. ET live on the Big Ten Network. Purdue's annual Senior Day ceremony is set for 2:30 p.m.
😃 Pregame Smiles for that #FridayFeeling at Alexander. #BoilerUp @Ryan_Long_01 📸@CarterDoorn @Mike_Bolton01 @TheLukeGaffney @JoSteve02293046 pic.twitter.com/2Lp4T8WIu8
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) May 18, 2024