CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Purdue Baseball's lineup came alive with a long rally in the eighth inning for the second game in a row but could not complete the comeback in a 6-4 series-opening loss at Illinois on Friday.
The Boilermakers (24-17, 6-13 Big Ten) broke up the shutout with a four-run inning, putting the tying run into scoring position in the top of the eighth and bringing it to the plate again in the ninth.
The most significant play of the night came as part of the game's third batter. Collin Jennings robbed Logan Sutter of a two-run homer with a leaping catch at the right field wall in the first inning. Jennings then connected for a two-run shot in the bottom half of the frame as the Illini's third batter of the game.
Illinois (24-15, 11-8 Big Ten) scored all six of its runs via an extra-base hit while enjoying a 5-1 edge in XBHs. In the Illini's four-run third inning, Jack Zebig and Jennings both connected for an RBI double. But the big blow was a two-out, two-run homer from Kyle Schupmann.
Carter Doorn, Justin Guiliano and Maclane Finley teamed up to post five consecutive zeros as Purdue kept the home side from extending its lead. Finley struck out three while retiring all seven batters he faced over 2 1/3 innings of flawless relief work.
Brandon Anderson singled in the first, third and ninth innings. He also drove in Purdue's first run of the night with an RBI groundout in the top of the eighth. The third baseman posted multiple hits and an RBI for the fourth consecutive game. He's 10-for-18 with six RBI in the last four games. Anderson and shortstop Camden Gasser both made diving plays on the left side of the infield to take away hits from the Illini.
Singles from Ty Gill and Eli Anderson ignited the four-run rally in the eighth inning. Purdue did not hit the ball out of the infield again after Anderson's pinch-hit knock into right center but still managed to force Illinois to put its closer on the mound.
Sutter extended his RBI streak to five consecutive games when he plated Eli Anderson with an infield hit as the fifth batter of the extended frame. Aaron Manias won a full-count battle to draw a bases loaded walk with two outs, putting the tying run on base. Schupmann booted a ground ball at third base that would have ended the inning. But Zach Bates ended the threat with a strikeout and retired four of the five batters he faced while recording a four-out save (his fifth).
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Logan Sutter: 11-game on-base, 9-game run scored, 5-game RBI
• CJ Richmond: 8-game on-base
• Brandon Anderson: 4th consecutive game with multiple hits and an RBI
Tyler Schmitt pitched into the eighth inning for Illinois, inducing 11 ground ball outs and striking out five over 7 1/3 innings. He issued just one walk after entering the night with more walks than strikeouts for the season.
The Boilermakers surrendered at least four runs in an inning for the fifth consecutive game. They're 1-4 in those games.
Illinois improved to 13-2 at home this season and 33-5 since the start of the 2024 campaign. The Fighting Illini are 6-1 at home in Big Ten play this year.
The series continues Saturday at 4 p.m. ET.
The Boilermakers (24-17, 6-13 Big Ten) broke up the shutout with a four-run inning, putting the tying run into scoring position in the top of the eighth and bringing it to the plate again in the ninth.
The most significant play of the night came as part of the game's third batter. Collin Jennings robbed Logan Sutter of a two-run homer with a leaping catch at the right field wall in the first inning. Jennings then connected for a two-run shot in the bottom half of the frame as the Illini's third batter of the game.
Illinois (24-15, 11-8 Big Ten) scored all six of its runs via an extra-base hit while enjoying a 5-1 edge in XBHs. In the Illini's four-run third inning, Jack Zebig and Jennings both connected for an RBI double. But the big blow was a two-out, two-run homer from Kyle Schupmann.
Carter Doorn, Justin Guiliano and Maclane Finley teamed up to post five consecutive zeros as Purdue kept the home side from extending its lead. Finley struck out three while retiring all seven batters he faced over 2 1/3 innings of flawless relief work.
Brandon Anderson singled in the first, third and ninth innings. He also drove in Purdue's first run of the night with an RBI groundout in the top of the eighth. The third baseman posted multiple hits and an RBI for the fourth consecutive game. He's 10-for-18 with six RBI in the last four games. Anderson and shortstop Camden Gasser both made diving plays on the left side of the infield to take away hits from the Illini.
Singles from Ty Gill and Eli Anderson ignited the four-run rally in the eighth inning. Purdue did not hit the ball out of the infield again after Anderson's pinch-hit knock into right center but still managed to force Illinois to put its closer on the mound.
Sutter extended his RBI streak to five consecutive games when he plated Eli Anderson with an infield hit as the fifth batter of the extended frame. Aaron Manias won a full-count battle to draw a bases loaded walk with two outs, putting the tying run on base. Schupmann booted a ground ball at third base that would have ended the inning. But Zach Bates ended the threat with a strikeout and retired four of the five batters he faced while recording a four-out save (his fifth).
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Logan Sutter: 11-game on-base, 9-game run scored, 5-game RBI
• CJ Richmond: 8-game on-base
• Brandon Anderson: 4th consecutive game with multiple hits and an RBI
Tyler Schmitt pitched into the eighth inning for Illinois, inducing 11 ground ball outs and striking out five over 7 1/3 innings. He issued just one walk after entering the night with more walks than strikeouts for the season.
The Boilermakers surrendered at least four runs in an inning for the fifth consecutive game. They're 1-4 in those games.
Illinois improved to 13-2 at home this season and 33-5 since the start of the 2024 campaign. The Fighting Illini are 6-1 at home in Big Ten play this year.
The series continues Saturday at 4 p.m. ET.