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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue baseball played a clean game defensively to overcome the 10 free passes it issued, scoring twice in the first inning to hold the lead throughout in a 4-2 series-opening win against Illinois on Friday at Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers (20-18, 7-6 B1G) won the opener of their 10-game homestand, posting their 20th victory of the season to double last year's win total in just 38 games. Purdue improved to 8-2 on Fridays.
Central Illinois native Dalton Parker worked four innings of one-run relief to close out the win and earn his fifth save of the season. Beginning with a bases-loaded strikeout to end the sixth inning with the go-ahead run at second, he retired nine of the final 11 batters he faced. Parker erased a one-out single with an inning-ending 5-4-3 double play ball off the bat of Illinois' top power hitter in the top of the eighth.
Big Ten runs scored leader Evan Warden reached base safely to begin three different innings. He came around to score in all three frames. The leadoff man extended his reached base safely streak to 19 consecutive games.
Mike Madej delivered a two-out, two-run double down the left field line with the bases loaded in the first inning.
Highlights from tonight's 4-2 series-opening win vs. Illinois via @BTNStudentU webcast. #Purdue never trailed. https://t.co/mGEUvKErhG
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 22, 2017
Illinois (15-20, 3-7 B1G) stranded 14 runners on base, leaving the bases loaded in the second, third and sixth innings. The Fighting Illini were 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position and 3-for-21 with runners on base.
Purdue starter Tanner Andrews (6-2) walked a career-high eight through five laborious innings. However, the only run he surrendered came on a bases-loaded walk with two outs in the top of the second. And after facing 18 batters over the first three frames, he was able to retire six of the final eight batters he faced to make it through the fifth.
The Boilermakers made three key defensive plays over the first three frames to avoid a big inning. Andrews erased his own throwing error on a failed pickoff attempt at first base by picking off the runner Jack Yalowitz at second. It was a key second out in the top of the first because a walk and single followed.
After a leadoff single in the second inning, Doran Turchin hit a pop up into short center field. Shortstop Harry Shipley slipped initially, but was able to recover in time to make a running catch with his back to the plate. It was a key out because three of the next four Illini batters went on to reach base safely. Andrews struck out Yalowitz, Illinois' leading hitter, with the bases loaded for the second out of the inning, but followed that up with a walk to Ben Troike to force in a run.
Although it went into the scorebook as a standard 5-3 ground out to end the top of the third, Hayden Grant made a strong play and throw on an in-between play with the bases loaded. Grant started at third base for the third consecutive game. He had a single, walk and sacrifice bunt at the plate Friday. Purdue successfully executed four sacrifice bunts in the win.
Nick Dalesandro and Jacson McGowan joined Warden as Boilermakers to reach base safely three times. Dalesandro drew a pair of walks after long at-bats and also delivered an RBI single through a drawn-in infield with Warden on third base in the seventh inning.
Big Ten runs scored leader @Evan_Warden scored 3 of #Purude's 4 runs in a 4-2 win vs Illinois. He discusses the win. https://t.co/Zw1nLweros
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 22, 2017
Purdue led 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth when Warden stole an insurance run. After singling to begin the frame and taking second on the first of Shipley's two sac bunts, he successfully stole third base and also scampered home when the throw sailed into left field.
Skyler Hunter delivered a hit-and-run single into left center with Dalesandro in motion later in the fifth. Dalesandro ran through a stop sign at third base for the second game in a row, but was out at the plate this time after a relay throw from the shortstop.
Illinois pitchers were forced to work the majority of the game from the stretch after Purdue's leadoff man reached base safely in five of the eight frames in which the home team batted. Illini starter Ty Weber (2-4) also labored early, throwing 38 pitches in the first inning while facing seven batters and striking out the side.
The series continues Saturday at 6 p.m. ET.