Big Innings Burn Baseball in Game 2 with Iowa

DES MOINES, Iowa – The bottom third of the original starting lineup was a combined 5-for-7 with three doubles and three RBI, helping Purdue Baseball knock out the starting pitcher early for the second day in a row, but Iowa reeled off 12 unanswered runs to take game 2 of the series 14-5 Friday.

The Boilermakers (35-17, 18-11 Big Ten) have dropped just their third series of the season. They held leads of 4-0 and 5-2 Friday but did not score again as the Hawkeyes (31-21, 14-15 Big Ten) rallied with a four-run sixth inning and eight-run bottom of the eighth.

Purdue loaded the bases in four different innings but left 14 runners on base, matching its season high. The Boilermakers were 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position while Iowa went 9-for-15.

After Purdue was unable to come up with a big hit with the bases loaded in each of the first two innings, three consecutive two-out hits led to a four-spot going up on the board and the Hawkeyes going to the bullpen. Westin Boyle opened the scoring with an RBI single, Zach Zychowski followed with a two-run double and Brandon Rogers drove in the fourth run with another RBI single.

Batting in the 7-hole, Jackson Bessette doubled twice and reached base safely in all four of his plate appearances. Boyle (2-for-2, HBP, BB) also reached base safely four times.

STREAKS EXTENDED
• Aaron Manias: 13-game on-base; 8-game hit in Big Ten play; 5-game hit overall
• Sam Flores: 10-game on-base
• Dylan Drake: 9-game on-base; 8-game on-base in Big Ten play
• Jackson Bessette: 9-game on-base; 5-game on-base in Big Ten play
• Avery Moore: 8-game hit; 6-game hit in Big Ten play
• Brandon Rogers: 5-game hit; 5-game RBI (both in Big Ten play)

Iowa sent 11 men to the plate in the eighth inning while matching the second-biggest inning of the season against the Boilermakers. There was a squeeze bunt RBI single, two-run double and two-run homer among the six hits in the frame.

Zach Erdman gave Purdue an opportunity to win yet again, pitching into the sixth while surrendering four runs on seven hits. He did not issue a walk for the sixth time in his 14 starts this season. The lefty worked a pair of 1-2-3 innings and induced an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play ball to limit the damage in the bottom of the third.

The third time through the lineup was when the Hawkeyes came alive offensively. The first six batters of the bottom of the sixth had a productive plate appearance as Purdue used three different pitchers during that stretch but could not prevent Iowa from taking its first lead at 6-5. Jaixen Frost connected for a game-tying, two-run double and 8-hole hitter Ben Swails delivered the go-ahead RBI single.

Jake Kramer stabilized things for Purdue by striking out three consecutive batters to bring the inning to an end. But Iowa shortstop Kooper Schulte turned a slick inning-ending double play after the Boilermakers had two on with one out in the top of the seventh. The following frame, Purdue loaded the bases with out but CJ Richmond and Trey Swiderski were both retired on loud outs – a line drive to second base and a deep fly ball to right center.

For the second day in a row, the Hawkeyes got five innings of strong relief from their pitcher that finished the game. Friday it was Jaron Bleeker working five innings of shutout relief. In the series, Iowa’s bullpen has accounted for 13 1/3 innings of three-run ball, racking up 16 strikeouts vs. two walks.

Dylan Drake connected for a two-out triple in the ninth inning in his first at-bat since suffering a broken hamate bone in his wrist in the April 11 win at Northwestern.

The loss coupled with Oregon’s win vs. USC on Friday assured that the Boilermakers will play Tuesday in the double-elimination opening round of the Big Ten Tournament.

The series and regular season finale is set for Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.