DES MOINES, Iowa – Purdue Baseball hit a trio of two-run homers but Iowa’s bats were also alive in a big way as the Hawkeyes scored in six innings to take the series and regular-season finale 15-9 Saturday at Principal Park.
The Boilermakers (35-18, 18-12 Big Ten) will be the No. 5 seed at next week’s Big Ten Tournament and play 12-seed Michigan State on Tuesday at 10 a.m. ET in the opening game of the event. Iowa and Illinois will also be in that half of the bracket and Purdue will rematch with one of those teams in its second game of the tournament. The Boilers have not played MSU at the Big Ten Tournament since the second round of 2011.
Aaron Manias, Jackson Bessette and Sergio DeCello all hit home runs to right field for Purdue on Saturday. The Hawkeyes (32-21, 15-15 Big Ten) also hit three home runs, including a second-inning grand slam, as part of 19-hit onslaught.
Manias’ home run cut the Boilermakers’ deficit to 6-4 in the top of the fourth, but Iowa responded with a 9-2 scoring surge over the fifth through eighth innings. Purdue did not go quietly with a three-run top of the ninth.
The Boilermakers left 12 runners on base while going just 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position. For the series, Purdue stranded 34 runners and was 0-for-7 with the bases loaded. Iowa had 10 more hits (20-for-47, .426) than the Boilers (10-for-37, .270) with runners in scoring position.
Complete recap to follow…
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Aaron Manias: 14-game on-base; 9-game hit in Big Ten play; 6-game hit overall
• Dylan Drake: 10-game on-base; 9-game on-base in Big Ten play
• Jackson Bessette: 10-game on-base; 6-game on-base in Big Ten play
• Avery Moore: 9-game hit; 7-game hit in Big Ten play
• Brandon Rogers: 6-game hit; 6-game hit in Big Ten play
SERIES LEADERS
• Aaron Manias: 6-for-11, 2B, 3B, HR, 3 RBI, 3 BB, HBP, 2 R; multiple hits in all 3 games
• Trey Swiderski: 6-for-13, 2B, RBI, 2 R; hit safely in all 3 games
• Brandon Rogers: 5-for-11, HR, 2 RBI, 3 BB, HBP, 3 R, SB; hit safely & drew a walk in all 3 games
• Avery Moore: 5-for-12, 2 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, 2 R; hit safely in all 3 games
• Jackson Bessette: 3-for-8, 2 2B, HR< 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 HBP, 3 R; on-base & scored a run in all 3 games
Purdue's Trio of 2-Run Homers Not Enough in Iowa Finale
Boilermakers will be 5-seed at the Big Ten Tournament, play Michigan St. on Tuesday at 10 a.m. ET
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