WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Luke Wagner shined in the rivalry spotlight, facing only 18 batters through the first five innings while put together a quality start, but Indiana scored 10 times with two outs over the final three frames to take game 2 of the series with Purdue Baseball 10-2 Saturday at Alexander Field.
The game was played in front of a stadium-record crowd of 2,619 as Alexander Field welcomed over 2,200 fans for the third game in a row and the record was eclipsed for the second time this week.
The Boilermakers' program-record 11-game Big Ten win streak came to an end. They're now in a three-way tie for first place with Illinois and Nebraska (all 12-5 in Big Ten play) after both were winners Saturday. The Hoosiers (26-19-1, 11-6 Big Ten) are just one game back in the standings. Sunday's rubber game of the series looms large with seven games remaining in the league schedule.
Indiana batted around in both the seventh and ninth innings, scoring six times with two outs in the top of the seventh after Purdue (31-16, 12-5 Big Ten) entered the frame with a 1-0 lead. When the bottom of the seventh came to an ended, the Boilermakers officially trailed at the end of a full frame in Big Ten play for the first time since April 6. Purdue had not trailed for 78 consecutive innings in Big Ten play and 58 consecutive innings overall during a season-long six-game win streak.
Entering the day, Dannelley had not allowed an inherited base runner to score all season, stranding 17 consecutive overall dating back to the 2023 season finale.
Indiana used its top two pitchers in the win. Connor Foley conceded just two hits over four innings of one-run ball. Ty Bothwell (6-2) scattered five hits over five innings of relief and Purdue did not score against Bothwell until Couper Cornblum delivered a two-out RBI single in the ninth inning to plate an unearned run. Together they held the Boilermakers without an extra-base hit for just the fourth time this season. During its 11-game Big Ten win streak, Purdue had won twice without an extra-base hit.
Cornblum started his 100th consecutive game Saturday.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 26-game on-base streak; 23-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 4/29/23); 16-game on-base streak at home; 11-game hit streak in Big Ten play
• Connor Caskenette – 10-game hit streak in Big Ten play; 15-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
• Keenan Spence – 10-game on-base streak at home
• Couper Cornblum – 100 consecutive games started (since start of 2023)
Keenan Spence delivered a two-out RBI single to open the scoring in the bottom of the fourth as the Boilermakers capitalized on consecutive hit batters to open the inning.
The following frame, Camden Gasser and Mike Bolton Jr. had consecutive singles to begin the inning. But Foley responded by retiring Purdue's 2-3-4 hitters in order. Even with first base open and Connor Caskenette coming to the plate with two outs, IU opted to let Foley pitch to the Big Ten's RBI leader, who had burned the visitors Friday night with a five-RBI performance. Foley fell behind in the count 3-0 but came back to retire Caskenette on a ground out to shortstop.
Sunday's rubber game is slated for a 1 p.m. ET first pitch.
The game was played in front of a stadium-record crowd of 2,619 as Alexander Field welcomed over 2,200 fans for the third game in a row and the record was eclipsed for the second time this week.
The Boilermakers' program-record 11-game Big Ten win streak came to an end. They're now in a three-way tie for first place with Illinois and Nebraska (all 12-5 in Big Ten play) after both were winners Saturday. The Hoosiers (26-19-1, 11-6 Big Ten) are just one game back in the standings. Sunday's rubber game of the series looms large with seven games remaining in the league schedule.
Indiana batted around in both the seventh and ninth innings, scoring six times with two outs in the top of the seventh after Purdue (31-16, 12-5 Big Ten) entered the frame with a 1-0 lead. When the bottom of the seventh came to an ended, the Boilermakers officially trailed at the end of a full frame in Big Ten play for the first time since April 6. Purdue had not trailed for 78 consecutive innings in Big Ten play and 58 consecutive innings overall during a season-long six-game win streak.
Wagner (7-1) rolled through five 1-2-3 innings and started an inning-ending 1-6-3 double play in the top of the fourth. In the process, he went 18 up, 17 down over the first six innings. But a third time through the lineup did not truly materialize as IU set up its first scoring opportunity with consecutive one-out singles in the top of the seventh. The Boilemakers went to the bullpen. Jackson Dannelley retired the Hoosiers' cleanup hitter for the second out of the inning, but the bottom half of the lineup teamed up for five consecutive hits. The big blow was a three-run homer from Carter Mathison after Joey Brenczewski and Brock Tibbitts connected for back-to-back RBI singles through the left side.Coach Keady in our Camo made for a Magical Moment at Alexander. #BoilerUp 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/RZuF9QnIBH
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) May 4, 2024
Entering the day, Dannelley had not allowed an inherited base runner to score all season, stranding 17 consecutive overall dating back to the 2023 season finale.
Indiana used its top two pitchers in the win. Connor Foley conceded just two hits over four innings of one-run ball. Ty Bothwell (6-2) scattered five hits over five innings of relief and Purdue did not score against Bothwell until Couper Cornblum delivered a two-out RBI single in the ninth inning to plate an unearned run. Together they held the Boilermakers without an extra-base hit for just the fourth time this season. During its 11-game Big Ten win streak, Purdue had won twice without an extra-base hit.
Cornblum started his 100th consecutive game Saturday.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 26-game on-base streak; 23-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 4/29/23); 16-game on-base streak at home; 11-game hit streak in Big Ten play
• Connor Caskenette – 10-game hit streak in Big Ten play; 15-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
• Keenan Spence – 10-game on-base streak at home
• Couper Cornblum – 100 consecutive games started (since start of 2023)
Keenan Spence delivered a two-out RBI single to open the scoring in the bottom of the fourth as the Boilermakers capitalized on consecutive hit batters to open the inning.
The following frame, Camden Gasser and Mike Bolton Jr. had consecutive singles to begin the inning. But Foley responded by retiring Purdue's 2-3-4 hitters in order. Even with first base open and Connor Caskenette coming to the plate with two outs, IU opted to let Foley pitch to the Big Ten's RBI leader, who had burned the visitors Friday night with a five-RBI performance. Foley fell behind in the count 3-0 but came back to retire Caskenette on a ground out to shortstop.
Sunday's rubber game is slated for a 1 p.m. ET first pitch.
Once again we say #ThankYouFans for packing Alexander to a level it's never been filled before. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/lyphzcSiWB
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) May 4, 2024