7 Consecutive Zeros from Bullpen Not Enough in 11-Inning Loss

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – On a night in which the bullpens combined for 14 1/3 scoreless innings, it was Miami (Ohio) that scored twice in the top of the 11th to break a stalemate on the scoreboard, defeating Purdue Baseball 5-3 Tuesday in the first extra-innings game of the season at Alexander Field.

Westin Boyle’s two-out home run in the fourth inning, the first of the freshman’s collegiate career, tied the score at 3-3. It remained that way until Dominic Krupinski delivered a bases-loaded RBI single with one out in the top of the 11th. Six of the first seven RedHawks to come to the plate in the 11th inning enjoyed a productive plate appearance. The Boilermakers (25-11) used three pitchers in the frame.

Graham Kollen (3 IP, 2 H, K) and Trevor Kester-Johnson (3 IP, H, 2 K) both pitched a season-high three innings of scoreless relief, teaming up with Jake Kramer (2 IP, 2 H, 2 K) to help the Boilermakers post seven consecutive zeros from the fourth through the 10th.

Purdue committed three errors for the second time this season, all three coming over the first four innings. An inning-opening error in the top of the third helped Miami (23-12) score a pair of unearned runs.

Boyle’s home run was the Boilermakers' only extra-base hit of the night. Jake Tedesco (1 1/3 IP, 0 H, K), Austin Berggren (3 IP, H, 3 K) and Marc Iozzo (2 IP, H, 0 R, K) teamed up for 6 1/3 innings of two-hit scoreless relief to back up starter Jack Geiser (4 2/3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 0 BB, 3 K).

Purdue’s first four batters reached base safely in the second inning. Boyle delivered an RBI single with the bases loaded and Zach Zychowski drove in another run with a sacrifice fly. But besides Boyle’s home run, the Boilers only had one base runner advance past first base the rest of the game.

Quincy Malbrough made a crowd-pleasing catch sliding towards the tarp in foul territory down the left field line to end the top of the 10th. The RedHawks were threatening after a two-out double and intentional walk.

Avery Moore threw out Krupinski at second base from right field to begin the fifth inning, preventing a hustle double. Moore made another strong throw home early in the top of the 11th, forcing Miami to hold the go-ahead run at third base following a leadoff double.

Eli Anderson’s two-out single in the seventh inning extended his hit streak at Alexander Field to 12 consecutive games. Sam Flores was kept off base for the first time since the March 21 win vs. Penn State, ending his on-base streak at 14 consecutive games.

By posting zeros in the ninth and 10th innings, Kramer extended his consecutive scoreless innings streak to 14 2/3. He has yet to give up a run at Alexander this season (10 innings).

The game was played in front of 2,263 fans, the largest crowd of the season at Alexander Field.

Purdue continues its five-game homestand Friday when it opens a three-game Big Ten Conference series vs. Ohio State. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. ET.

STREAKS EXTENDED
• Eli Anderson: 12-game hit at home
• Avery Moore: 11-game on-base; 6-game hit; 5-game on-base at home
• Quincy Malbrough: 7-game-hit; 7-game on-base at home; 6-game hit at home
• Jackson Bessette: 7-game on-base
• Westin Boyle: 6-game on-base
• Jake Kramer: 14 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings; 10 consecutive scoreless innings at home