WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – No. 24 UCLA opened the game with three straight singles in a three-run first inning and didn't let up throughout the day, pounding out 19 hits to defeat Purdue Baseball 16-3 Sunday at Alexander Field.
The Bruins (22-5, 10-2 Big Ten) completed a three-game series sweep in their first appearance in West Lafayette, moving back into a first-place tie with Iowa atop the Big Ten Conference standings. UCLA scored 37 runs in the series while posting a .385 team batting average. Defensively, the visitors turned eight double plays, all of the ground ball variety.
While the Boilermakers (20-7, 3-6 Big Ten) lost consecutive games this weekend for the first time this season, they've also dropped six of their last seven games in Big Ten play dating back to March 9. Since sweeping Michigan State at Alexander the weekend of April 12-14 last season, Purdue has lost 10 of its last 12 home games in Big Ten play.
Lukas Cook went 4-for-4 Sunday, recording three hits for the third game in a row and posting his second four-hit game of the current 12-game homestand. He finished the series 10-for-14 with 10 singles.
Cook connected for the fourth of Purdue's four consecutive singles to open the fifth inning as the Boilermakers finally got to UCLA starter Landon Stump. Brandon Rogers and Ty Gill ignited the rally. They also hit safely in all three games, finishing the weekend with six hits apiece. Keenan Spence and Rogers both made diving catches in the outfield to prevent runs from scoring.
Cook, Rogers and Gill accounted for 22 of Purdue's 35 hits (22-for-37, .595) in the series. Unfortunately, the rest of the team was 13-for-70 (.186). Scoring 20 runs in a three-game series against a top-25 opponent is certainly a respectable showing for a lineup, but the Bruins found a way to close out the first two games when the Boilers had late opportunities to at least force extra innings. And run prevention in Big Ten series finale has been an issue for Purdue this month, surrendering a combined 38 runs in game 3 losses to Minnesota, Michigan and UCLA.
On this Sunday, UCLA scored five times in the fourth inning and punctuated the sweep with a six-run top of the eighth. The Bruins also posted a pair of five-run innings in Saturday's 13-12 slugfest. Dating back to the March 21 series opener vs. Michigan, opponents have scored four or more runs in an inning nine times at Alexander.
Aaron Manias' single in the fourth inning extended his on-base streaks to nine consecutive games in both all contests and Big Ten play. But leadoff man Albert Choi was kept off base for the first time as a Boilermaker, ending his on-base streak at 26 games. Spence was held hitless in Big Ten play for the first time since April 28, 2024, ending a 13-game conference hit streak.
Purdue's season-long homestand concludes with a midweek game vs. Northern Illinois, which has been moved up one day to Tuesday due to storms in the forecast for the originally scheduled Wednesday date. First pitch is officially set for 5 p.m. ET.
The Bruins (22-5, 10-2 Big Ten) completed a three-game series sweep in their first appearance in West Lafayette, moving back into a first-place tie with Iowa atop the Big Ten Conference standings. UCLA scored 37 runs in the series while posting a .385 team batting average. Defensively, the visitors turned eight double plays, all of the ground ball variety.
While the Boilermakers (20-7, 3-6 Big Ten) lost consecutive games this weekend for the first time this season, they've also dropped six of their last seven games in Big Ten play dating back to March 9. Since sweeping Michigan State at Alexander the weekend of April 12-14 last season, Purdue has lost 10 of its last 12 home games in Big Ten play.
Lukas Cook went 4-for-4 Sunday, recording three hits for the third game in a row and posting his second four-hit game of the current 12-game homestand. He finished the series 10-for-14 with 10 singles.
Cook connected for the fourth of Purdue's four consecutive singles to open the fifth inning as the Boilermakers finally got to UCLA starter Landon Stump. Brandon Rogers and Ty Gill ignited the rally. They also hit safely in all three games, finishing the weekend with six hits apiece. Keenan Spence and Rogers both made diving catches in the outfield to prevent runs from scoring.
Cook, Rogers and Gill accounted for 22 of Purdue's 35 hits (22-for-37, .595) in the series. Unfortunately, the rest of the team was 13-for-70 (.186). Scoring 20 runs in a three-game series against a top-25 opponent is certainly a respectable showing for a lineup, but the Bruins found a way to close out the first two games when the Boilers had late opportunities to at least force extra innings. And run prevention in Big Ten series finale has been an issue for Purdue this month, surrendering a combined 38 runs in game 3 losses to Minnesota, Michigan and UCLA.
On this Sunday, UCLA scored five times in the fourth inning and punctuated the sweep with a six-run top of the eighth. The Bruins also posted a pair of five-run innings in Saturday's 13-12 slugfest. Dating back to the March 21 series opener vs. Michigan, opponents have scored four or more runs in an inning nine times at Alexander.
Aaron Manias' single in the fourth inning extended his on-base streaks to nine consecutive games in both all contests and Big Ten play. But leadoff man Albert Choi was kept off base for the first time as a Boilermaker, ending his on-base streak at 26 games. Spence was held hitless in Big Ten play for the first time since April 28, 2024, ending a 13-game conference hit streak.
Purdue's season-long homestand concludes with a midweek game vs. Northern Illinois, which has been moved up one day to Tuesday due to storms in the forecast for the originally scheduled Wednesday date. First pitch is officially set for 5 p.m. ET.