Bullpen Shines as Boilers Score 10 Unanswered to Win Series

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Baseball reeled off 10 unanswered runs while posting eight consecutive zeros defensively, overcoming an early five-run deficit in a 10-5 series-clinching victory vs. Illinois on Sunday at Alexander Field.

The Boilermakers (21-9, 9-6 Big Ten) won their fourth consecutive series in Big Ten play, achieving the feat for the first time since the 2012 Big Ten championship team won its first seven.

Purdue overcame a deficit of five-plus runs for the second weekend in a row. March 28 at Michigan State, the Boilers reeled off 15 unanswered runs while rallying from an 8-1 deficit after two innings. But that game turned out to be a 16-13 Saturday slugfest. On this day, Thomas Howard (3 2/3 IP, 3 H, 2 BB, 2 K), Jarvis Evans (3 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 3 K) and Jake Kramer (1 2/3 IP, 0 H, 2 BB, K) teamed up for the eight consecutive scoreless innings after the Fighting Illini (15-15, 7-8 Big Ten) scored five times in the top of the first.

Meanwhile, Purdue also scored in each of the first three innings, making it one-run game with a three-run bottom of the second and grabbing the lead with four two-out runs the following frame. Quincy Malbrough, Westin Boyle and Eli Anderson reached base safely and scored a run in both frames. Malbrough registered hits in five consecutive at-bats from the fifth inning Saturday through the third inning Sunday, connecting for four doubles during that stretch.

SUNDAY NOTABLES
• The Boilermakers opened and closed their first series win vs. Illinois since April 2017 with eight consecutive scoreless innings. Purdue posted zeros in 21 of the 27 innings it was in the field while outscoring the visitors 21-13.
• The Boilers improved to 4-1 in weekend-deciding Sunday games this season. They’ve won traditional rubber games on consecutive weekends in Big Ten play for the first time since April 2011. Sunday was Purdue’s first rubber game victory vs. Illinois since 2010 in Champaign.
• The Boilers improved to 9-4 at home this year. They have not lost consecutive games at home since early April of last season.

Both teams capitalized when the opposition gave them an extra out to work with. Illinois scored three of its five runs with two outs in the top of the first after an error loaded the bases. Two pop ups dropped – one for an error, another for a two-run single – in the Boilers’ four-run third inning.

As the first man out of the bullpen for Purdue, Howard retired 11 of 12 batters faced from the first through fifth innings. He posted 1-2-3 innings against the Illini’s 3-4-5 and 2-3-4 hitters during that stretch. The team’s relief ace worked six innings of one-run ball over two appearances in the series. Evans retired the first nine batters he faced in his first relief appearance as a Boilermaker, striking out three in his best outing at Alexander Field so far.

STREAKS EXTENDED
• Sam Flores: 10-game hit; 7-game hit in Big Ten play; 6-game hit at home
• Aaron Manias: 10-game on-base; 7-game on-base in Big Ten play; 6-game hit at home
• Eli Anderson: 10-game hit at home
• Dylan Drake: 10-game on-base at home
• Avery Moore: 6-game on-base; 7-game on-base in Big Ten play

SERIES LEADERS
• Thomas Howard: 2 App, 6 IP, 7 H, R, 5 BB, 4 K
• Quincy Malbrough: 5-for-8, 4 2B, 3 RBI, 3 R
• Aaron Manias: 5-for-9, 2 2B, 3 RBI, BB, 4 HBP, 4 R – Hit safely in all 3 games
• Sam Flores: 6-for-10, 2B, HR, 5 RBI, BB, 4 R, SB – Hit safely & drove in a run in all 3 games
• Jackson Bessette: 4-for-10, 2 RBI, BB, HBP, 2 R, Sac Bunt
• Eli Anderson: 4-for-12, 2 2B, RBI, 2 BB, 4 R, SB
• Avery Moore: 4-for-12, 2B, 3 RBI, 2 HBP

Sam Flores and Anderson delivered RBI singles in the second inning after Malbrough and Boyle reached base to ignite the rally. Purdue’s four consecutive two-out hits in the third inning after the dropped pop up included Malbrough’s double, an RBI single from Boyle, an opposite-field double from Anderson and a two-run single from Manias. The last of four would have been caught if not for the wind playing tricks on the left side of the Illini infield again

The Boilermakers’ first five batters of the sixth inning also reached base safely, with a leadoff double from Manias igniting the rally. Dylan Drake drew a bases-loaded walk and Jackson Bessette was plunked moments later to force home another run.

Purdue is back in action Tuesday when it squares off against Bradley for the first time since 2011. First pitch at Alexander Field is set for 6 p.m. ET.