Purdue Pounds Out 16 Hits, Posts 8 Zeros to Clinch Series Win

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Zach Erdman racked up a career-high eight strikeouts while not allowing an earned run over six innings, leading the ways as the Boilermakers posted eight zeros for the 13th time this season in an 11-4 series-clinching victory vs. Murray State on Saturday at Alexander Field.

Purdue (31-15) clinched its 10th winning weekend of the campaign, including the fourth in a row at home.

The Boilermakers pounded out 16 hits on the day, their most since March 28, while building an 11-0 lead through five innings. The Racers (27-20) scored all four of their runs on one swing – Jackson McCoy’s grand slam after a two-out error extended the sixth inning.

Sam Flores connected for his team-leading 10th home run in the fourth inning, becoming the eighth Boilermaker this decade to reach double figures.

Purdue connected for three doubles while batting around in a five-run fifth inning. Avery Moore led off with an opposite-field double to the warning track in right, Jackson Bessette doubled to the opposite corner of the field and Quincy Malbrough hit a humpback liner over the first baseman’s head for a two-run double down the right field line. Eli Anderson also had a two-run single during the extended rally

Erdman struck out six his first time through the Murray State lineup. He was still working on a shutout with two outs in the sixth inning, having retired six consecutive batters at that point. The lefty issued a two-out walk to MSU’s 3-hole hitter, the first base on balls by the Purdue pitching staff since the fourth inning of the April 26 loss at USC – ending a streak of 27 consecutive innings without a walk. The two-out error followed and McCoy’s grand slam assured the game would go the full nine innings.

Erdman joined Jarvis Evans (March 1 vs. Marist) and Austin Klug (April 12 at Northwestern) as Boilermakers with eight strikeouts this season. Erdman had fanned seven while leading Purdue to 2-1 victories vs. both Portland and Oregon in his Boilermaker debut and first appearance at Alexander Field, respectively. He pitched into the sixth inning for the fourth time this season and has helped the Boilers post an 11-2 record on Saturdays this year.

STREAKS EXTENDED
• Eli Anderson: 19-game hit at home
• Quincy Malbrough: 17-game on-base; 14-game on-base at home
• Westin Boyle: 10-game on-base at home
• CJ Richmond: 12-game on-base; 9-game on-base at home
• Aaron Manias: 7-game on-base
• Sam Flores: 7-game on-base at home
• Zach Zychowski: 7-game on-base at home

The first eight men in the Purdue lineup all reached base safely multiple times. Anderson and Moore both had three hits. CJ Richmond, Jackson Bessette and Westin Boyle all reached base safely three times as well. Richmond connected for an RBI single in each of his first two at-bats. Aaron Manias’ RBI double in the third inning was the first of four two-baggers for the Boilers.

Nick Kolze and Jackson Greer backed up Erdman with three scoreless innings of relief. Kolze induced a pair of inning-ending double plays, breaking the bat of Colby Ott to end the top of the seventh and rolling up a 4-6-3 twin killing the following frame. Greer struck out the first two batters of a 1-2-3 ninth inning.

The Boilermakers posted a season-high 11 strikeouts for the sixth time this year.

Purdue has won the first two games of a weekend series for the sixth time this season and has an opportunity to post its fourth sweep Sunday. First pitch of the series finale is set for 1 p.m. ET.