Purdue Scores a Dozen, Clinches 6th Straight Series Win

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Baseball posted a six-run inning for the second day in a row on its way to scoring a dozen, rolling past Ohio State 12-7 Saturday to clinch a sixth consecutive series victory.

The Boilermakers (27-11, 14-6 Big Ten) won for the ninth time in their last 10 Big Ten games and improved 18-6 since March 10. With losses by USC and Oregon on Saturday, Purdue moved into sole possession of third place in the conference standings.

The Boilermakers clinched their first series win vs. Ohio State (19-18, 9-8 Big Ten) at home since the 1987 NCAA Regional team swept a four-game set vs. the Buckeyes at Lambert Field. Purdue’s six straight Big Ten series wins remains a team first since the 2012 conference championship team won its first seven. No. 1 UCLA (20-0 Big Ten) is the only other squad to win six straight Big Ten series this season.

Gavin Beuter worked four innings of shutout relief in his finest outing of the season and his best performance at Alexander Field in two years as a Boilermaker. Saturday he was the only pitcher for either team that went unscored upon while working at least a full inning. Beuter (2-0) retired 11 of the 14 batters he faced while surrendering just two singles, setting down nine consecutive Buckeyes after giving up a base hit to the first man to stand in against him.

Both teams posted four consecutive zeros over the middle innings before the bats woke up again late in the game. Aaron Manias and Jackson Bessette homered in the seventh and eighth innings to help Purdue extend its lead. Manias’ majestic 400-foot blast sailed over the top of the right field foul pole and cleared the bullpen. Bessette connected for a two-out, two-run, opposite-field blast the following frame – his first home run as a Boilermaker at Alexander Field. The senior had a multi-homer game for UIC in March 2025 at Alexander.

Corner outfielders Avery Moore and Quincy Malbrough have been pivotal to Purdue’s continued winning ways while injuries have impacted the lineup over the last four weekends. They delivered yet again Saturday, finishing the victory a combined 4-for-8 with four RBI and four runs scored. Malbrough had three RBI over the first two innings as the Boilers raced out to an 8-2 lead. He was also safe at the plate by an eyelash on a first-inning double steal with Bessette. Moore doubled to center field twice to go along with a bases-loaded walk.

Another new addition to the lineup, second baseman Zach Zychowski, had three hits in the 9-hole while continuing to make plays all over the infield as Purdue’s frequent infield shifts led to outs. Zychowski’s RBI single capped the six-run inning as the Boilers batted around. He also tripled to right center and scored moments later on a squeeze bunt from Eli Anderson.

Manias was also 3-for-5 in the victory.

STREAKS EXTENDED
• Eli Anderson: 14-game hit at home
• Avery Moore: 13-game on-base; 8-game hit; 12-game on-base in Big Ten play; 7-game on-base at home; 6-game hit in Big Ten play; 5-game hit at home
• Sam Flores: 12-game on-base in Big Ten play
• Aaron Manias: 10-game on-base in Big Ten play; 6-game hit in Big Ten play
• Quincy Malbrough: 9-game-hit; 9-game on-base at home; 8-game hit at home; 7-game hit in Big Ten play
• Westin Boyle: 8-game on-base; 6-game hit; 6-game hit in Big Ten play; 5-game on-base at home
• Zach Zychowski: 5-game on-base in Big Ten play
• Jake Kramer: 16 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings; 12 consecutive scoreless innings at home

Purdue improved to 10-1 on Saturdays this season, nine of those wins coming behind pitcher Zach Erdman. The lefty handed off the ball to the bullpen early on this day but not before making a nifty behind-the-back pick on a sharp comebacker for the first out of the third inning.

Jake Kramer got the final two outs of the game to close out a fourth straight Big Ten victory. He’s pitched in each of the last five games overall, working seven scoreless innings during that span. The Purdue closer still has not been charged with a run at home this season.

The Boilermakers used seven pitchers in the win. Nick Kolze accounted for four outs as the penultimate man out of the bullpen. The senior entered the game with the bases loaded, no outs and Purdue up 10-4 in the top of the eighth. Kolze rolled up three consecutive ground ball outs to keep the Buckeyes from putting up a big inning.

With the Boilers up 8-4 in the top of the seventh, Jarvis Evans struck out OSU cleanup hitter Dane Harvey to strand a pair of runners. Harvey has connected for three homers in the series.

While winning series vs. Illinois and Ohio State over the last two home weekends at Alexander Field, Purdue ended three-series win streaks of both opponents. Now the Boilermakers have an opportunity to sweep consecutive series in Big Ten play for the first time since their team-record 11-game conference win streak in April 2024. That stretch featured Purdue’s last three-game series sweep at home (vs. Michigan State).

Sunday’s series finale is set for a 1 p.m. ET first pitch.