WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Baseball was unable to turn a quality start from Carter Doorn into a series-opening victory as Northwestern scored six times in the seventh inning to rally past the Boilermakers 8-6 Friday at Alexander Field.
With rain in the forecast for Sunday, the teams have opted to play a Saturday doubleheader at 1 p.m. ET to conclude the series. One ticket is good for both/either game(s) but there is no reentry without scanning a new ticket. Purdue's online auction for this weekend's special batting practice jerseys is still set for Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. Proceeds benefit Riley Children's Hospital.
The Wildcats (21-22, 10-12 Big Ten) sent 10 men to the plate in their game-changing inning. Consecutive hitter batters with the bases loaded and a go-ahead, three-run double from Bennett Markinson were the most pivotal plays of the rally.
The Boilermakers (26-19, 7-15 Big Ten) carried a 6-2 lead into the seventh inning after scoring six unanswered runs. But it was NU that scored the game's final seven runs while keeping the home team off the board after the fifth inning. Eight of Purdue's last nine games have featured one team scoring at least six unanswered runs – with both sides doing so Friday.
Having led 6-1 entering the sixth inning, the five-run lead was the second biggest of the season the Boilermakers let get away. The Wildcats' six-run inning matched the biggest of the year against Purdue – all three coming in Big Ten games at Alexander Field.
Aaron Manias hit a three-run homer as the Boilers opened up a 5-1 lead in the third inning. CJ Richmond matched Manias' three hits on the night. Richmond drove in runs in his first two at-bats with a two-out RBI double in the first inning and an RBI single before Manias' blast to right field in the bottom of the third. Eli Anderson had a pair of singles from the 8-hole in the lineup, including a two-out RBI single in the fifth inning. That trio accounted for eight of the Boilermakers' nine hits as the rest of the lineup was a combined 1-for-16.
Doorn put together his third quality start of the season, giving up runs on sacrifice flies in the first and sixth innings. The senior posted four consecutive zeros in between. He surrendered four hits and four walks.
The game's momentum swung on an inning-ending double play in the bottom of the sixth. Batesville, Indiana, native Jack Grunkemeyer recorded two outs with the only pitch he threw in the game. Second baseman Jacob Hand made a diving stop near the second base bag and teamed up with shortstop Ryan Kucherak for the 4-6-3 twin killing after Purdue looked poised to extend its lead with two on and one out.
Northwestern went to relief ace Crawford Wade after taking the lead. Wade retired nine of the 10 batters he faced over three innings of hitless relief.
A leadoff walk to the 9-hole hitter ignited Northwestern's six-run rally. A pair of bloop singles followed to load the bases for the middle of the lineup. The next two batters were hit by a pitch to make it a two-run game.
Avery Cook struck out the side in the sixth inning after replacing Michael Vallone following the first HBP. Cook's first K was against the 5-hole hitter to keep the tying run at second base. First baseman Logan Sutter made a diving stop on a hot shot off the bat of Hand, but Cook did not cover first base in time and it went for an RBI single. Markinson followed with his bases-clearing double down the left field line.
Purdue has not played a doubleheader since March 22 vs. Michigan. Northwestern's last doubleheader was April 19 at Nebraska. The teams also played a doubleheader against each other on April 2, 2023, as part of Northwestern's last visit to Alexander Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. Saturday.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Logan Sutter: 9-game on-base at home
• Aaron Manias: 7-game on-base; 5-game RBI
• Houston Russell: 6-game on-base in Big Ten play
• CJ Richmond: 6-game on-base at home
With rain in the forecast for Sunday, the teams have opted to play a Saturday doubleheader at 1 p.m. ET to conclude the series. One ticket is good for both/either game(s) but there is no reentry without scanning a new ticket. Purdue's online auction for this weekend's special batting practice jerseys is still set for Sunday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET. Proceeds benefit Riley Children's Hospital.
The Wildcats (21-22, 10-12 Big Ten) sent 10 men to the plate in their game-changing inning. Consecutive hitter batters with the bases loaded and a go-ahead, three-run double from Bennett Markinson were the most pivotal plays of the rally.
The Boilermakers (26-19, 7-15 Big Ten) carried a 6-2 lead into the seventh inning after scoring six unanswered runs. But it was NU that scored the game's final seven runs while keeping the home team off the board after the fifth inning. Eight of Purdue's last nine games have featured one team scoring at least six unanswered runs – with both sides doing so Friday.
Having led 6-1 entering the sixth inning, the five-run lead was the second biggest of the season the Boilermakers let get away. The Wildcats' six-run inning matched the biggest of the year against Purdue – all three coming in Big Ten games at Alexander Field.
Aaron Manias hit a three-run homer as the Boilers opened up a 5-1 lead in the third inning. CJ Richmond matched Manias' three hits on the night. Richmond drove in runs in his first two at-bats with a two-out RBI double in the first inning and an RBI single before Manias' blast to right field in the bottom of the third. Eli Anderson had a pair of singles from the 8-hole in the lineup, including a two-out RBI single in the fifth inning. That trio accounted for eight of the Boilermakers' nine hits as the rest of the lineup was a combined 1-for-16.
Doorn put together his third quality start of the season, giving up runs on sacrifice flies in the first and sixth innings. The senior posted four consecutive zeros in between. He surrendered four hits and four walks.
The game's momentum swung on an inning-ending double play in the bottom of the sixth. Batesville, Indiana, native Jack Grunkemeyer recorded two outs with the only pitch he threw in the game. Second baseman Jacob Hand made a diving stop near the second base bag and teamed up with shortstop Ryan Kucherak for the 4-6-3 twin killing after Purdue looked poised to extend its lead with two on and one out.
Northwestern went to relief ace Crawford Wade after taking the lead. Wade retired nine of the 10 batters he faced over three innings of hitless relief.
A leadoff walk to the 9-hole hitter ignited Northwestern's six-run rally. A pair of bloop singles followed to load the bases for the middle of the lineup. The next two batters were hit by a pitch to make it a two-run game.
Avery Cook struck out the side in the sixth inning after replacing Michael Vallone following the first HBP. Cook's first K was against the 5-hole hitter to keep the tying run at second base. First baseman Logan Sutter made a diving stop on a hot shot off the bat of Hand, but Cook did not cover first base in time and it went for an RBI single. Markinson followed with his bases-clearing double down the left field line.
Purdue has not played a doubleheader since March 22 vs. Michigan. Northwestern's last doubleheader was April 19 at Nebraska. The teams also played a doubleheader against each other on April 2, 2023, as part of Northwestern's last visit to Alexander Field. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. Saturday.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Logan Sutter: 9-game on-base at home
• Aaron Manias: 7-game on-base; 5-game RBI
• Houston Russell: 6-game on-base in Big Ten play
• CJ Richmond: 6-game on-base at home