LOS ANGELES – USC’s Grant Govel took a perfect game into the eighth inning on a day in which both teams did not issue a walk, leading the Trojans past Purdue Baseball 6-1 Saturday.
No. 21 USC scored multiple runs in the first inning for the second day in a row while ending the Boilermakers’ streak of six consecutive Big Ten series victories. The Trojans (33-11, 15-8 Big Ten) improved to 24-1 at home this season.
CJ Richmond broke up Govel’s perfect game with a one-out single in the top of the eighth. Govel retired 24 of the 26 batters he faced over eight shutout innings of two-hit ball. The sophomore needed only 101 pitches to complete eight innings. He threw just 18 pitches across the fifth and sixth innings.
Gavin Beuter and Joe Trenerry teamed up for six innings of one-run relief for Purdue (28-14, 15-8 Big Ten). Beuter retired 12 of 14 batters faced while working four shutout innings for the second Saturday in a row. The senior has not allowed an earned run in six relief appearances this month, enjoying a streak of 13 1/3 consecutive innings without an earned run.
The Boilermakers avoided being shut out for the first time this season with a run in the ninth. Westin Boyle opened the frame with a leadoff single, Aaron Manias doubled off the center field fence and Sam Flores plated the run with an RBI ground out.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Quincy Malbrough: 13-game on-base; 10-game on-base in Big Ten play
• CJ Richmond: 8-game on-base; 6-game on-base in Big Ten play
• Gavin Beuter: 13 1/3 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run
USC strung together four singles over the span of five batters in a three-run first inning. Kevin Takeuchi homered to center field in the bottom of the third, connecting for a two-run blast for the second day in a row.
Purdue went without a walk at the plate for the third time this season. On the mound, the pitching staff had its second no-walk game of the year.
Sunday’s series finale has been moved up half an hour to 3:30 p.m. ET in an effort to avoid a travel curfew.
