Box Score: PDF / HTML // Series Stats
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Purdue baseball received a quality start from pitcher Shane Bryant but stranded 12 runners on base while it was at the plate in a 3-0 loss at Northwestern on Sunday afternoon.
The Boilermakers (7-37, 2-19 B1G) out hit NU 25-24 and drew three more free passes in the series, but were swept after leaving 30 runners on base over the course of the weekend. Purdue was 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position Sunday and 6-for-33 for the series. Meanwhile, Northwestern (13-34, 5-16 B1G) left only 16 runners on base in the series while scoring 12 of its 17 runs with two outs in an inning.
Trailing 2-0 in the eighth inning, the Boilermakers loaded the bases with no outs but did not score. Pinch hitter Daniel Sander hit a line drive to center field that turned into a double play when Kyle Wood was thrown out at the plate after trying to tag up and score from third.
Bryant (0-4) worked a season-high 7 1/3 innings of three-run ball. He did not issue a walk and didn't give up an extra-base hit until the eighth inning. The senior retired 12 of 13 batters from the third through seventh innings and erased a one-out single in the seventh by picking off the runner at first base.
Purdue had five base runners against NU starter Tommy Bordignon (2-3) over the first three frames, but the sophomore managed to retire eighth in a row from the third through sixth innings. He was lifted after issuing consecutive one-out walks in the top of the sixth.
The Boilermakers' two through six hitters all reached base safely at least twice in the game. But the seven, eight, nine and one spots in the lineup were a combined 1-for-16. Nick Dalesandro, Kyle Johnson and Wood hit safely in all three games of the series after recording a single Sunday. Johnson has hit safely in every game of seven different weekends this year and Dalesandro has done likewise six times.
Brett Carlson recorded his third double of the series and team-high 12th of the season in the seventh inning. He has recorded 10 of the 12 two-baggers since April 12.
Northwestern's Jake Schieber delivered a two-strike, two-out RBI single to open the scoring in the second inning. The following frame, Connor Lind drove in a run with a slow chopper to third with the bases loaded and one out. It remained a 2-0 game until Joe Hoscheit singled up the middle for the second time in the game to drive in a runner from second base.
Both teams had 16 players see action. Northwestern used five pitchers, including three in the eighth inning. Tyler Lass inherited a 2-0 count on Jacson McGowan in the top of eighth, finishing off the walk to load the bases. But he was able to escape the bases-loaded jam and went on to retire five of the six batters he faced to close out the win.
The Boilermakers are scheduled to play all of their final 10 games of the season in the state of Indiana, beginning with Tuesday's 6:30 p.m. home date against IPFW.