Boilermakers Ride 7-Run Inning to Series-Clinching Win

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Westin Boyle and CJ Richmond connected for a two-run double and two-run homer consecutively after Maryland allowed an infield pop up to drop, delivering the big hits in a seven-run second inning as Purdue Baseball defeated Maryland 8-6 Saturday.

The Boilermakers (12-5, 3-2 Big Ten) clinched a series victory, their first on the road in Big Ten play since take two of three at Minnesota to open the league schedule last season.

Purdue improved to 6-0 on Saturdays this season and remained unbeaten when Zach Erdman starts on the mound. Erdman struck out six over 4 1/3 innings of four-run ball Saturday. The lefty has racked up at least five punchouts in each of his five starts.

Jake Kramer retired all five batters he faced, striking out the first and final, as part of a five-out save. With one out in the bottom of the eighth, Kramer entered the game with a runner at second and Maryland (10-8, 0-2 Big Ten) home run leader Ryan Costello at the plate. Purdue had retired Costello just twice over his first eight plate appearances in the series. Kramer struck him out looking on four pitches.

The Boilermakers sent 10 men to the plate in the top of the second while scoring at least four runs in a frame for the sixth time this week. They have posted big innings featuring eight, seven, six, five and four (twice) runs.

Ross Highfill and Dylan Drake ignited the rally from the bottom of the lineup. Highfill aggressively went first to third on Drake’s one-out single to center field, sliding in safely at third on a bang-bang play. Drake moved up to second on the back side of the action. Ali Banks followed with a sacrifice fly and Aaron Manias’ RBI single made it 3-1 Purdue.

After a walk to Brandon Rogers, Sam Flores swung at the first pitch and hit a high pop up above the mound. The UMD infield converged on it, but pitcher Evan Smith did not take charge; the ball hit off the glove of the third baseman and dropped to the turf. Manias scored on the play. Purdue took advantage of the extra out in a big way as Boyle connected for a gapper to the wall in left center and Richmond homered to the left of the batter’s eye in center field.

STREAKS EXTENDED
• Brandon Rogers: 11-game on-base; 10-game on-base in Big Ten play (since April 27, 2025)
• Aaron Manias: 8-game on-base; 5-game hit in Big Ten play
• Zach Erdman: 5+ strikeouts in 5 consecutive starts

The Terrapins stranded 11 runners on the base, including leaving the bases loaded without scoring in the fifth inning. Graham Kollen and Trevor Kester-Johnson delivered the key outs for Purdue in the frame. Kollen struck out Bud Coombs on three pitches for the second out and Kester-Johnson won a lefty-lefty matchup vs. Aden Hill to finish the frame.

Banks reached second base to begin the game for the second day in a row. His double down the right field line led to a run after a fly ball to center field dropped for an unexpected hit and Purdue executed a walk-off play with runners on the corners and a two-strike count on Flores. Manias drew a throw to second base and Banks scored without a throw as Manias successfully returned to first base safely. Moments later, Flores doubled down the left field line in the first inning for the second day in a row.

Erdman labored through a three-run third inning his second time through the UMD lineup, but he finished it strong with a strikeout. He went on to retire six consecutive batters from the third through fifth innings.

The series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m.