WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue baseball erupted for five runs on three homers and five extra-base hits in the ninth inning, but it wasn't enough to overtake Illinois in a 6-5 loss Friday in the opener of a three-game series at Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers' five-game win streak and six-game home win streak vs. Illinois were both snapped Friday. But with another long rally in its final at-bat, Purdue (10-16) has now scored 38 runs in the ninth inning this season. Eighteen of those runs have come in the last five games.
Ben Nisle, Ryan Howe and Kyle LaPlante all homered in the ninth inning. Miles Simington and Zac Fascia also connected for consecutive doubles after Nisle's first-pitch home run to begin the frame.
NINTH INNING NOTABLES
• The Boilermakers hit three home runs in a inning for the first time since a February 2017 win at Texas State (first inning).
• Three different Boilermakers homered for the second game in a row. It was a different trio in both games. Prior to Monday, Purdue had not accomplished the feat since April 2017 and had done it only six times in the BBCOR bat era (2011-present).
• Ryan Howe and Kyle LaPlante teamed up for the Boilermakers' first set of back-to-back home runs since Jacson McGowan and Ben Nisle did it against Houston at the 2018 NCAA Regional in Chapel Hill. Friday marked the first time Purdue hit back-to-back jacks at Alexander Field, which opened in 2013.
• Nisle homered for the fourth consecutive weekend and extended his reached base safely streak to 15 consecutive games, one shy of his career best.
• LaPlante hit his first career home run at Alexander Field.
• Miles Simington recorded his Big Ten-leading 12th double and extended his career-long reached base safely streak to 15 consecutive games. He's also hit safely in eight straight. Eleven of his 12 doubles have come in the last 14 games.
• In the ninth inning this season, Purdue has produced rallies of seven, six, five and four runs (twice). Entering the season, Purdue had scored five or more runs in a ninth inning only 10 times since 2001.
• The 38 runs in the ninth are more than the combined run totals of any two other innings. The program's high-water mark for ninth inning runs since 2001 is 39 (in 2012) while batting in the ninth 42 times. The Boilermakers have batted in the ninth inning 22 times this season.
Calvin Schapira provided Purdue with another quality start, surrendering three earned runs over 6 1/3 innings. He pitched into the seventh for the fourth time in his last five starts. However, the lefty did not strike out a batter Friday.
Calvin Starnes and Kyle Wade teamed up to strand a combined five inherited runners over the seventh and eighth innings. Starnes struck out the Illini's No. 5 and 6 hitters to end the top of the seventh. But Illinois (11-14) still managed to tack on three insurance runs after Schapira (0-4) left the mound. An earned tally on a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth proved to be decisive run after the Boilermakers finally came to life offensively for the five-run rally.
Andrew Hoffmann and Cole Kirschsieper teamed up for eight innings of one-hit ball for the Fighting Illini. Mike Bolton Jr. singled and walked against Hoffmann (1-0), with a hit by pitch producing Purdue's only other base runner over six innings against the right-hander. Kirschsieper struck out five of the eight batters he faced, including the Boilermakers' 6-7-8 hitters consecutively with two men aboard in the bottom of the seventh.
The game ended on a diving catch in center field by Taylor Jackson, who took a single away from his counterpart Skyler Hunter.
Kellen Sarver drove in the Illini's first and final runs via a solo homer in the second and the sac fly in the ninth. Nathan Aide went 4-for-5 with four singles in the eight-hole of the lineup. He led off the seventh with a base hit and Illinois went on to score twice in the frame.
Bolton stole second base both time he reached. After his walk in the fourth inning, he was enjoying a five-game stretch in which he had registered six singles, six walks, five stolen bases and a .722 on-base percentage.
The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. ET, weather permitting.
The Boilermakers' five-game win streak and six-game home win streak vs. Illinois were both snapped Friday. But with another long rally in its final at-bat, Purdue (10-16) has now scored 38 runs in the ninth inning this season. Eighteen of those runs have come in the last five games.
Ben Nisle, Ryan Howe and Kyle LaPlante all homered in the ninth inning. Miles Simington and Zac Fascia also connected for consecutive doubles after Nisle's first-pitch home run to begin the frame.
NINTH INNING NOTABLES
• The Boilermakers hit three home runs in a inning for the first time since a February 2017 win at Texas State (first inning).
• Three different Boilermakers homered for the second game in a row. It was a different trio in both games. Prior to Monday, Purdue had not accomplished the feat since April 2017 and had done it only six times in the BBCOR bat era (2011-present).
• Ryan Howe and Kyle LaPlante teamed up for the Boilermakers' first set of back-to-back home runs since Jacson McGowan and Ben Nisle did it against Houston at the 2018 NCAA Regional in Chapel Hill. Friday marked the first time Purdue hit back-to-back jacks at Alexander Field, which opened in 2013.
• Nisle homered for the fourth consecutive weekend and extended his reached base safely streak to 15 consecutive games, one shy of his career best.
• LaPlante hit his first career home run at Alexander Field.
• Miles Simington recorded his Big Ten-leading 12th double and extended his career-long reached base safely streak to 15 consecutive games. He's also hit safely in eight straight. Eleven of his 12 doubles have come in the last 14 games.
• In the ninth inning this season, Purdue has produced rallies of seven, six, five and four runs (twice). Entering the season, Purdue had scored five or more runs in a ninth inning only 10 times since 2001.
• The 38 runs in the ninth are more than the combined run totals of any two other innings. The program's high-water mark for ninth inning runs since 2001 is 39 (in 2012) while batting in the ninth 42 times. The Boilermakers have batted in the ninth inning 22 times this season.
Calvin Schapira provided Purdue with another quality start, surrendering three earned runs over 6 1/3 innings. He pitched into the seventh for the fourth time in his last five starts. However, the lefty did not strike out a batter Friday.
Calvin Starnes and Kyle Wade teamed up to strand a combined five inherited runners over the seventh and eighth innings. Starnes struck out the Illini's No. 5 and 6 hitters to end the top of the seventh. But Illinois (11-14) still managed to tack on three insurance runs after Schapira (0-4) left the mound. An earned tally on a sacrifice fly in the top of the ninth proved to be decisive run after the Boilermakers finally came to life offensively for the five-run rally.
Andrew Hoffmann and Cole Kirschsieper teamed up for eight innings of one-hit ball for the Fighting Illini. Mike Bolton Jr. singled and walked against Hoffmann (1-0), with a hit by pitch producing Purdue's only other base runner over six innings against the right-hander. Kirschsieper struck out five of the eight batters he faced, including the Boilermakers' 6-7-8 hitters consecutively with two men aboard in the bottom of the seventh.
The game ended on a diving catch in center field by Taylor Jackson, who took a single away from his counterpart Skyler Hunter.
Kellen Sarver drove in the Illini's first and final runs via a solo homer in the second and the sac fly in the ninth. Nathan Aide went 4-for-5 with four singles in the eight-hole of the lineup. He led off the seventh with a base hit and Illinois went on to score twice in the frame.
Bolton stole second base both time he reached. After his walk in the fourth inning, he was enjoying a five-game stretch in which he had registered six singles, six walks, five stolen bases and a .722 on-base percentage.
The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. ET, weather permitting.
Another #4faves from the @PurdueBaseball game tonight. pic.twitter.com/A78OojH7bk
— Dave Wegiel Photo (Taylor's Version) (@pinolaphoto) April 24, 2021