Hawkeyes Lose Heartbreaker at Purdue in Series Opener, 6-3

Stats

May 19, 2011

Box Score

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The Iowa baseball team fell to Purdue Thursday afternoon, 6-3, in the first of a three-game set. The Hawkeyes led the contest 3-0 entering the bottom of the seventh inning. Purdue scored one run in the bottom of the seventh and five in the bottom of the eighth to earn the comeback victory. The game was played at Lambert Field on the campus of Purdue.

Junior Mike McQuillan tallied his 20th multi-hit game of the season, going 2-for-4. Senior Tyson Blaser recorded his 16th multi-hit game. He went 2-for-4 with two doubles and an RBI. Blaser leads Iowa with 18 doubles this season. Senior Trevor Willis finished 2-for-5 with an RBI, recording his 15th multi-hit game. Senior Kurt Lee also recorded an RBI.

Iowa (20-30, 9-13) grabbed a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth. McQuillan led off the frame with a single through the right side. With two away and McQuillan on third, Blaser doubled to right center to give the Hawkeyes an early advantage.

The visitors tallied a pair of runs in the top of the seventh, pushing their lead to 3-0. Chett Zeise singled up the middle to begin the inning. Kyle Haen followed with a sacrifice bunt, moving Zeise to second. Lee then doubled to left center to score Zeise. Willis followed with a single up the middle, scoring Lee from second and giving Iowa a three-run advantage.

Purdue (34-18, 12-10) tallied a run in the bottom half of the seventh, cutting the Hawkeye lead to 3-1.

The Boilermakers scored five in the bottom of the eighth to claim the 6-3 victory. With the bases loaded and one away, Andrew Nixon knocked the game-winning triple down the left field line to clear the bases and give Purdue its first lead of the game.

Jarred Hippen started for Iowa and took the loss. He allowed six runs (three earned) on eight hits while striking out four in eight innings. The lefty held the Big Ten’s top offense scoreless for six innings.

Angelo Cianfrocco earned the win for Purdue. He pitched an inning and two-thirds. Nick Wittgren pitched a scoreless ninth inning to tally his 12th save of the season.

The Hawkeyes and Boilermakers continue their three-game set Friday. First pitch of game two is scheduled for 3 p.m. at Lambert Field.

Purdue 6, Iowa 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Iowa (20-30, 9-13) 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 3 9 1
Purdue (34-18, 12-10) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 8 0
Game Decision
W: Cianfrocco (PUR) 1-0
L: Hippen (UI) 4-6
SV: Wittgren (PUR) 12