Malbrough's 3-Double Night Not Enough vs Illini

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Quincy Malbrough connected for three doubles in his first start of the season but Illinois’ four-run sixth inning proved to be the difference, carrying the Fighting Illini to a 7-5 series-evening win vs. Purdue Baseball on Saturday at Alexander Field.

Illinois (15-14, 7-7 Big Ten) sent 10 men to the plate in a lengthy top of the sixth that saw the Boilermakers (20-10, 8-6 Big Ten) use four pitchers. Purdue issued four free passes in the frame (2 walks, 2 HBP), supplementing a game-tying leadoff home run, a sac fly and a pair of RBI singles for the visitors.

Malbrough doubled in the fifth, seventh and eighth innings, joining Aaron Manias as active Boilermakers with a three-double game. Malbrough posted the first three-double game by a Purdue hitter at Alexander Field and the first such effort by a Boilermaker in a home game since April 2003. He helped Purdue score twice in the fifth and seventh innings, driving in the team’s final run in the bottom of the eighth as the Boilers did not go quietly after trailing 1-0, 6-2 and 7-4.

The teams will play an Easter Sunday rubber game to decide the series, the first rubber game in the border battle since March 2014 in Champaign. It will be the third rubber game over the first five weekends of Big Ten play for both teams this season.

For the first time this year, Purdue lost on a Saturday and with Zach Erdman on the mound. The lefthander departed after Kyle Schupmann’s leadoff homer in the top of the sixth, working five-plus innings of two-run ball. He has surrendered only three runs over 17 innings in his first three starts at Alexander Field – with all three games being low-scoring affairs through five innings. But on this night, Illinois touched up the Boilermaker bullpen for five runs on six hits and four walks over four innings.

Illinois’ top two relievers – Kyle Remington and Reed Gannon – teamed up for 4 1/3 innings of three-run ball while striking out seven. They backed up a quality outing from starter Mitch Dye, who worked 4 2/3 innings of two-run ball, matching his season highs for innings pitched and strikeouts (5).

Down 6-2 entering the bottom of the seventh, the first four Purdue hitters reached base safely as the Boilermakers put the tying run on base. Malbrough and Eli Anderson connected for back-to-back doubles and Sam Flores delivered a bases-loaded, two-run single to extend his hit streak to nine consecutive games. Manias was thrown out at the plate by right fielder Collin Jennings while trying to score from second base on a two-out single from Jackson Bessette (3-for-3, BB, R). The call was upheld after a video review.

STREAKS EXTENDED
• Sam Flores – 9-game hit; 6-game hit in Big Ten play; 5-game hit at home
• Aaron Manias – 9-game on-base; 6-game on-base in Big Ten play; 5-game hit at home
• Dylan Drake – 9-game hit at home
• Eli Anderson – 9-game hit at home
• Avery Moore – 5-game on-base; 6-game on-base in Big Ten play

Dylan Drake scored from first base on Malbrough’s third double of the night as Purdue brought the tying run to the plate again in the eighth inning. But Gannon retired the final five Boilermakers to bat on the night to close out the win.

Insurance runs on RBI singles from Nick Groves and Cameron Chee-Aloy in the seventh and eighth innings helped the visitors stave off a Purdue comeback.

Gavin Beuter was the most effective reliever of the night for the Boilermakers, striking out three over 2 2/3 innings of one-run ball. He has six Ks vs. five hits allowed over 5 1/3 innings of effective relief this week.

Malbrough posted the 16th three-double game by a Boilermaker since 2001. Five of those have come since March 4, 2023, after Purdue had just three from 2012 to 2022. The junior was inserted into the lineup Saturday after Brandon Rogers suffered a broken hand while making a diving catch and crashing into the bottom of the center field wall, saving two runs in the sixth inning of Friday’s win. Malbrough entered the night 3-for-12 with one double in 17 games off the bench this season.

Sunday’s rubber game is set for a 1 p.m. ET first pitch.