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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Two losing streaks of at least 15 games coupled with a 2-13 record in one-run affairs led to a frustrating season for Purdue baseball in 2016.
The Boilermakers won three times in a span of four games on two occasions, but were victorious in just four of their other 46 games to finish the season at 10-44, the program's fewest wins since 1975.
Head coach Doug Schreiber, who as the program's all-time wins leader (485) coached nearly 1,000 games over 18 years, chose to step down at the end of the season. Schreiber led Purdue to the 2012 Big Ten title, seven 30-win seasons and 10 conference tournament berths. The Boilermakers failed to qualify for the Big Ten Tournament only once from 2004 through 2012, but have now missed out on the postseason in four consecutive years for the first time since 1988 to 1992.
Purdue lost a program-record 16 straight games from March 20 to April 16 and later 15 in a row from April 23 through May 17. During the 16-game skid, the Boilermakers lost four straight games all in one-run fashion for the first time since 1954. Purdue finished the season by winning three of four vs. Cal State Northridge, all in shutout fashion, to claim its only series victory of the year. It marked the first time the Boilermakers had three shutout victories in a four-game span since March 1993.
The season ended on a high note not only with the series win, but also with an emotional senior day in which the Boilermakers honored their 13 seniors and coach Schreiber. The seniors led the way in the 8-0 victory, highlighted by 5 2/3 innings of two-hit ball from Mike Lutz and home runs by Kyle Johnson and Kyle Wood. As four-year starters, Johnson and Wood both finished their careers with 100 RBI and 200 hits.
Wood started every game and homered in his final collegiate at-bat. His 12 home runs were the most by a Boilermaker since 2009. Nine of the long balls came during an impressive March power surge in which he hit the most homers in a month by a Boilermaker since April 2008. He was named a Third Team All-Big Ten honoree at first base and finished his career with 26 long balls, good for eighth in program history.
Gavin Downs, a three-year member of the weekend rotation, also went out on a high note. In his final start, he threw 145 pitches in a memorable complete-game shutout, the first such effort by a Boilermaker since May 2012. Matt Frawley and Nick Dalesandro played the starring roles in the 1-0 10-inning victory the following night. Frawley worked eight shutout frames and Dalesandro delivered the game-winning hit. Purdue pitchers compiled a streak of 24 consecutive scoreless innings from May 17 to 21, the program's longest streak since March 2008, and put up 34 zeros total during the series victory vs. CSUN.
Twenty-eight of the Boilermakers' 54 games were decided by three runs or fewer. But Purdue was just 4-24 in those numerous close games and it won just once (Feb. 21 at Georgia State) when the opposition scored first. Additionally, Purdue lost seven times when leading (four) or tied (three) after seven innings, a byproduct of being outscored 64-10 in the eighth inning for the season.
The Boilermakers had a program-high 17 Academic All-Big Ten honorees this year. Eight of the 17 were from the 13-player senior class that was honored prior to the season finale. Nine Purdue baseball players also graduated with bachelor's degrees in May.
MLB DRAFT PICK
Matt Frawley, 17th Round by Pittsburgh Pirates
SIGNED PRO CONTRACTS
Matt Frawley, Pittsburgh Pirates
Kyle Johnson, New York Yankees
Shane Bryant, Joliet Slammers (Frontier League)
Kyle Wood, Windy City ThunderBolts (Frontier League)
ALL-BIG TEN
Kyle Wood, Third Team First Baseman
BIG TEN DISTINGUISHED SCHOLARS (3.7+ GPA)
Gavin Downs
Patrick Kenney
ACADEMIC ALL-BIG TEN (3.0+ GPA)
Shane Bryant
Eddie De LaRiva
Gavin Downs
Adam Dressler
Matt Frawley
Brian Ghiselli
Justin Gubser
Stephen Kalina
Evan Kennedy
Patrick Kenney
Mike Kornacker
Mike Lutz
Alec Olund
Tanner Schumacher
Cody Strong
Kyle Wood
Robb Woodcock
JOHNNY BENCH AWARD SEMIFINALIST
Jack Picchiotti
BIG TEN SPORTSMANSHIP HONOREE
Kyle Johnson
WALK-OFF WINS
March 19 -- Purdue 5, Ohio 4 in 15 innings (Game-Winning Bunt Single: Alec Olund)
May 20 -- Purdue 1, CSUN 0 in 10 innings (Game-Winning Single: Nick Dalesandro)
INDIVIDUAL & TEAM NOTABLES
March 5 -- Matt Frawley works 7 2/3 innings of two-run ball in the longest outing by a Purdue reliever since 2013
March 5 -- Kyle Wood homers three times in doubleheader split at ETSU, becoming first Boilermaker to go deep in both games of a twinbill since 2011
March 11-April 8 -- Cody Strong reaches base safely in 15 consecutive games
March 12-25 -- Kyle Wood records an RBI in 7 straight games
March 12-April 1 -- Kyle Wood records an extra-base hit in 10 straight games
March 18-23 -- Kyle Wood homers in four consecutive games, hitting 9 home runs total in March
March 22 -- Kyle Johnson becomes first Boilermaker since 2009 with two grand slam in a season
March 25 -- Eddie De LaRiva strikes out 9 of 19 batters faced vs. Nebraska
April 5-29 -- Kyle Johnson reaches base safely in 15 consecutive games
April 8-12 -- Purdue loses four consecutive games all in one-run fashion for first time since 1954
April 24 -- Brett Carlson becomes first Boilermaker since 2011 with three doubles in a game
May 1 -- Shane Bryant strikes out 9 of 20 batters faced, leading the way as Purdue records 15 strikeouts vs. Ohio State, tying the third-highest single-game total in program history
May 11 -- Daniel Sander goes 5-for-5 with 3 RBI and 5 RBI, posting first five-hit game by a Boilermaker since 2011
May 13-15 -- Purdue hosts Minnesota for first time since April 2010
May 17-21 -- Purdue pitchers work 24 consecutive scoreless innings
May 19 -- Gavin Downs pitches first complete-game shutout by a Boilermaker since 2012
May 19-22 -- Purdue wins three times in shutout fashion over a four-game span for first time since 1993
May 19-22 -- Purdue wins a four-game series for first time since 2011 and closes its regular season with non-conference action for first time since 1997
GAMES AGAINST NCAA TOURNAMENT TEAMS (11 GAMES)
Feb. 19 -- at Georgia Tech 5, Purdue 2
March 23 -- Louisville 9, Purdue 4 (U of L an NCAA Super Regional Qualifier)
March 25-27 -- Nebraska Swept 3-Game Series at Alexander Field
April 29-May 1 -- Ohio State Swept 3-Game Series at Alexander Field
May 13-15 -- Minnesota Swept 3-Game Series at Alexander Field
TEAM AWARDS
MVP -- Kyle Johnson
Red Mackey Award (Excellence by a Senior) -- Gavin Downs
Offensive Player of the Year -- Kyle Wood
Defensive Player of the Year -- Harry Shipley
Pitcher of the Year -- Matt Frawley
Clyde Lyle Award (Top Non-Scholarship Performer) -- Shane Bryant
Mr. Boilermaker Award (Attitude) -- Justin Gubser
Newcomer of the Year -- Nick Dalesandro