Boilers Rally for 5 in 9th, Win on Rogers' 3-Run Double

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Brandon Rogers connected for a two-out, three-run double to cap a five-run ninth inning as Purdue Baseball rallied for an improbable victory for the second day in a row, defeating Indiana 5-4 in walk-off fashion Saturday at Alexander Field.

The Boilermakers (34-15, 17-9 Big Ten) won on a walk-off for the fourth time this season, but it was the first such win at Alexander Field since the penultimate home game of the 2025 campaign.

After scoring seven times in the eighth inning to steal Friday’s series opener 11-9, Purdue has won consecutive games in its last at-bat for the first time since taking the first two games of an April 2024 series sweep at Rutgers. The Boilermakers have done it at home for the first time since April 2014, which also featured an eighth inning rally in a win vs. UIC and a walk-off victory in the next game vs. Ohio State.

Purdue has won 19 times this season when trailing at some point in the game. Saturday was its second victory when facing a four-run deficit entering the bottom of the ninth after also scoring five times in the final frame in an 11-10 walk-off win vs. Marist on Feb. 28 in Holly Springs, N.C.

Purdue clinched its fifth consecutive series win at home and its 11th winning weekend of the season. Both remain high water marks since the 2012 Big Ten Championship campaign.

PURDUE’S BIGGEST COMEBACKS THIS SEASON
• May 8 – Won 11-9 vs. Indiana after trailing 8-0 entering bottom 4th
• March 28 – Won 16-13 at Michigan State after trailing 8-1 entering top 3rd
• Apri 5 – Won 10-5 vs. Illinois after trailing 5-0 entering bottom 1st
• Feb. 21 – Won 6-5 vs. Baylor (in Round Rock, Texas) after trailing 5-0 entering bottom 6th
• May 9 – Won 5-4 vs. Indiana after trailing 4-0 entering bottom 9th
• Feb. 28 – Won 11-10 vs. Marist (in Holly Springs, N.C.) after trailing 10-6 entering bottom 9th

The Boilermakers sent eight men to the plate in the bottom of the ninth, with the final six enjoying a productive plate appearance. Avery Moore ignited the rally with a leadoff single. CJ Richmond’s one-out single loaded the bases for the first time.

Rogers’ double down the right field line was the only extra-base hit of the frame and one of just two on the day for Purdue. However, the Boilers drew three of their five walks in the game in the ninth inning.

Jackson Bessette and Westin Boyle both drew walks on full counts against reliver Reagan Rivera, who entered the frame looking poised to complete a shutout while backing up starter Brayton Thomas (5 1/3 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K) with three zeros. But while Thomas threw only 56 pitches vs. the 21 batters he faced, Rivera’s pitch count climbed over 50 after a bases-loaded walk to Boyle put Purdue on the board for the first time.

After the Hoosiers went to a lefty, Zach Zychowski hit a line drive into center field for a sacrifice fly. Trey Swiderski followed with a four-pitch walk as a pinch hitter, putting the winning run aboard while loading the bases again. Swiderski scored from first when Rogers went with a 1-2 pitch on the outer half of the plate, slotting it perfectly down the unprotected first base line to set off the wild celebratory scene at Alexander.

Friday night, Rogers delivered a game-tying, two-run single as a pinch hitter in the seven-run eighth inning and scored the go-ahead run moments later on Sam Flores’ homer. Rogers made his first start Saturday since suffering a broken hand while making a run-saving catch and crashing into the outfield wall in an April 3 win vs. Illinois.

STREAKS EXTENDED
• CJ Richmond: 15-game on-base; 12-game on-base at home; 9-game on-base in Big Ten play
• Westin Boyle: 13-game on-base at home
• Aaron Manias: 10-game on-base; 7-game on-base at home
• Sam Flores: 10-game on-base at home; 7-game on-base overall
• Jackson Bessette: 9-game hit at home

Zach Erdman gave Purdue an opportunity yet again, striking out six over six innings of two-run ball. He posted his fourth official quality start while surrendering two earned runs or fewer for the seventh time this season. The lefty struck out at least six batters for the sixth time.

The Boilermakers surrendered a pair of unearned runs with two outs in the seventh inning, but Zychowski made a key diving stop behind second base with the bases loaded for the final out of the top of the eighth. Gavin Beuter went to retire four of the five batters he faced and worked around a two-out double in the ninth.

Entering the bottom of the ninth, the only time Purdue had had multiple base runners in a frame was just a brief moment when Aaron Manias was thrown out at the plate while trying to score on a two-out infield hit from Bessette. Second baseman Landen Fry saved a run with his diving stop on Bessette’s hit.

Sunday’s series finale is set for a 1 p.m. ET first pitch. The annual Senior Day celebration is at 12:30 p.m.