Purdue Wins 2-1 Behind Erdman for Third Time

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Even without a strikeout, Zach Erdman worked seven innings of one-run ball to lead Purdue Baseball to its third 2-1 victory of the season – all with the lefty on the mound – Saturday vs. Penn State at Alexander Field.

Ali Banks hit the game-deciding home run to lead off the bottom of the sixth, greeting the Nittany Lions’ top reliever with a 392-foot blast to left center on the second pitch of the day thrown by Kyle Emmons. It was Banks’ third homer of the season, all coming in the last six games.

CJ Richmond and Dylan Drake both connected for a double in the span of three batters to pull the Boilermakers (15-6, 5-3 Big Ten) even in the bottom of the fifth. Drake missed an opposite-field home run by just a few feet, settling for his third double and fourth extra-base hit of the series.

Drake also enjoyed a fantastic defensive game at second base. He helped Purdue turn three double plays for the second game in a row – none bigger than an inning-ending 4-3 twin killing with the bases loaded to end the top of the fifth. He also took away a one-out single with a sliding play up the middle in the second inning. Richmond assisted his infield mate with a long wingspan and stretches at first base on multiple occasions.

The Boilermakers have turned three double plays in back-to-back games for the first time since racking up seven across the midweek and home openers in March 2024.

Erdman opened the game with consecutive 1-2-3 innings and finished his outing with a third 1-2-3 frame. He pitched from the stretch for much of the middle innings, but still only needed 86 pitches to complete seven frames. Coincidentally, the senior had registered at least five strikeouts in each of his first five outings before going without a K on Saturday. Erdman has pitched a combined 20 innings of one-run ball across Purdue’s trio of 2-1 victories, all of which have been on Saturdays.

Jake Kramer retired all five batters he faced while closing out a win for the second Saturday in a row. He struck out the opposition’s top hitter to begin his outing for the second week in a row.

STREAKS EXTENDED
• Brandon Rogers: 15-game on-base; 13-game on base in Big Ten play (Since April 27, 2025); 10-game on-base at home (since May 3, 2025)
• Westin Boyle: 8-game on-base; 6-game on-base in Big Ten play
• Dylan Drake: 7-game hit
• Ali Banks: 6-game hit in Big Ten play
• Purdue has hit a home run in 8 consecutive games

Purdue lost a pair of base runners between second and third base as doubles from Eli Anderson and Brandon Rogers were erased by a pickoff and a relay sequence.

Anderson had multiple hits for the fourth consecutive game. He’s 9-for-14 during that stretch. Drake is 12-for-24 with a team-high 11 RBI during his current seven-game hit streak.

The Boilermakers went without a free pass (walk or HBP) at the plate Saturday for the first time this season. They won for the sixth time in the last seven games all the same.

Purdue will go for a series sweep for the second Sunday in a row and remains in pursuit of its first such sweep in Big Ten play since April 2024 at Northwestern. The Boilermakers have not swept Penn State (5-15, 1-4 Big Ten) in a three-game series in West Lafayette since April 2010.