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MUNCIE, Ind. – A two-out, three-run homer helped Ball State score five times over the first two innings, and the Cardinals capitalized on the early lead to defeat Purdue baseball 6-0 Tuesday in the first of two meetings this season between the in-state foes.
Conner Tomasic and Hayden Wynja both struck out the side in an inning, accounting for nine the Boilermakers' 10 strikeouts. Purdue pitchers posted a double-figure strikeout total for the fourth consecutive game, accomplishing the feat for the first time since April 2010.
But the Boilermakers (4-15) were also shut out for the third time in the last four games. They've scored in only one of their last 36 innings. Purdue had not been blanked in consecutive games since the final since a February 2017 series at Arkansas-Little Rock.
John Ricotta connected for the three-run homer in the first inning, going deep to left center on a full-count pitch after initially being down in the count 0-2. Moments earlier, Austin Peterson had induced soft contact vs. cleanup hitter Andre Orselli, but the chopper bounced high over the mound and went for an infield single to extend the inning.
Ball State (12-10) strung together three consecutive singles the following frame, adding a second run when Orselli beat the throw at first to prevent the RBI fielder's choice from being an inning-ending double play.
Tomasic faced the minimum 11 batters over 3 2/3 innings of one-hit relief. He fanned the first two men he faced to strand inherited runners at second and third. The freshman struck out Ball State's 5-6-7 hitters in order in the bottom of the seventh to close his most successful relief outing of the year. Bryce Bonner cut down a base stealer at second base in the sixth inning to erase the only batter to reach safely again Tomasic.
Wynja struck out the side in the third inning, fanning Ball State's Nos. 7, 9 and 1 hitters while working around a one-out double. The lefty fanned four of five batters during his most effective stretch.
Tyler Powers and Evan Albrecht recorded consecutive singles to open the third inning, setting up a potential rally with the top of the lineup to follow. But Powers was thrown out at third base while tagging up on a fly ball to center field.
Cole McKenzie's two-out single in the sixth inning extended his team-long reached base safely streak to 13 consecutive games. But Skyler Hunter's eight-game hit streak came to an end.
Three different Ball State pitchers worked at least one 1-2-3 inning, combing for five such frames total.
The Boilermakers are back in action Wednesday when they host first-time opponent Bowling Green at 4 p.m. ET.
MUNCIE, Ind. – A two-out, three-run homer helped Ball State score five times over the first two innings, and the Cardinals capitalized on the early lead to defeat Purdue baseball 6-0 Tuesday in the first of two meetings this season between the in-state foes.
Conner Tomasic and Hayden Wynja both struck out the side in an inning, accounting for nine the Boilermakers' 10 strikeouts. Purdue pitchers posted a double-figure strikeout total for the fourth consecutive game, accomplishing the feat for the first time since April 2010.
But the Boilermakers (4-15) were also shut out for the third time in the last four games. They've scored in only one of their last 36 innings. Purdue had not been blanked in consecutive games since the final since a February 2017 series at Arkansas-Little Rock.
John Ricotta connected for the three-run homer in the first inning, going deep to left center on a full-count pitch after initially being down in the count 0-2. Moments earlier, Austin Peterson had induced soft contact vs. cleanup hitter Andre Orselli, but the chopper bounced high over the mound and went for an infield single to extend the inning.
Ball State (12-10) strung together three consecutive singles the following frame, adding a second run when Orselli beat the throw at first to prevent the RBI fielder's choice from being an inning-ending double play.
Tomasic faced the minimum 11 batters over 3 2/3 innings of one-hit relief. He fanned the first two men he faced to strand inherited runners at second and third. The freshman struck out Ball State's 5-6-7 hitters in order in the bottom of the seventh to close his most successful relief outing of the year. Bryce Bonner cut down a base stealer at second base in the sixth inning to erase the only batter to reach safely again Tomasic.
Wynja struck out the side in the third inning, fanning Ball State's Nos. 7, 9 and 1 hitters while working around a one-out double. The lefty fanned four of five batters during his most effective stretch.
Tyler Powers and Evan Albrecht recorded consecutive singles to open the third inning, setting up a potential rally with the top of the lineup to follow. But Powers was thrown out at third base while tagging up on a fly ball to center field.
Cole McKenzie's two-out single in the sixth inning extended his team-long reached base safely streak to 13 consecutive games. But Skyler Hunter's eight-game hit streak came to an end.
Three different Ball State pitchers worked at least one 1-2-3 inning, combing for five such frames total.
The Boilermakers are back in action Wednesday when they host first-time opponent Bowling Green at 4 p.m. ET.