Offensive explosion powers Hoosiers past Purdue

Indiana’s offense was just enough to back up an excellent start from Pauly Milto as the Hoosiers won game three of their series with Purdue 14-9.

Matt Lloyd got the Indiana offense going early when he powered a two-out solo home run over the right field wall to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.

That lead was fairly short-lived, as Purdue’s Jacson McGowan brought Purdue back to level terms with a solo homer of his own to lead off the 2nd inning. Milto shut down the Boiler offense after that, and sent the Purdue hitters packing to end the inning.

After putting up zeroes in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th innings, the Hoosiers’ offense came alive in a big way in the Top of the 5th. Ryan Fineman got the inning going with a leadoff single and advanced to second on an excellent sacrifice bunt from Tony Butler. Purdue starter Mike Kornacker hit Jeremy Houston, giving Indiana runners at first and second with just one out. Alex Krupa came up with a single up the middle, and some heads-up baserunning from Fineman allowed him to score from second. That was all for Kornacker, and he was removed in favor of Brian Ghiselli.

Luke Miller greeted Ghiselli by driving the first pitch he saw over the left field wall to give the Hoosiers a 5-1 lead. The hit parade continued as Lloyd and Logan Sowers collected back-to-back singles, bringing up Craig Dedelow. Dedelow added to Ghiselli’s troubles by mashing a three-run homer, extending the Indiana lead to 8-1. That was all for Ghiselli, and he was pulled from the game and Kyle Schweiger entered for Purdue.

Matt Gorski was the first batter to face Schweiger and he worked the sidearmer for a walk, then stole second. Fineman followed up with a walk of his own, giving Purdue more problems with only one out. Gorski then stole third, but it looked like Fineman missed a sign, and he was gunned down at second. Tony Butler then flew out to left center, but the damage had already been done, and the eight runs would be more than enough for Milto.

In the 6th, Indiana continued their scoring. Houston reached first by being hit by a pitch for the second time in two innings. Krupa then followed by drawing a walk, and that resulted in the removal of Schweiger. He was replaced by Hunter Wolfe, who began his outing by hitting Miller, loading the bases with no outs. Lloyd struck out looking, but Sowers blooped a single to right, scoring Houston. Dedelow hit a sacrifice fly deep to right, which was good enough to score Krupa and moving Miller to third, giving Indiana a 10-1 lead.

Indiana added to their lead in the 7th, as Butler and Houston got the inning start by walking and singling, respectively. Krupa was nearly hit in the head by a pitch, and ended up drawing a walk to load the bases with one out. Miller struck out, but Lloyd worked Wolfe for a walk, which scored Butler. Tanner Schumacher was brought in to finish the inning for the Boilers, and he struck out Sowers, ending the frame with the Hoosiers up 11-1.

Indiana increased their lead yet again in the Top of the 8th, as Gorski recorded his first hit with a one out single to center. Fineman worked the count full before hammering a two-run homer into the Purdue bullpen in left. That was all the offense for the Hoosiers as Butler struck out looking and Houston flew out to left.

Purdue made things interesting in the bottom of the eighth, as Bryce Bonner was responsible for the first Boiler run since the second as he lined a solo home run to left. The Purdue attack continued as Alec Olund and Logan Poisall collected back-to-back singles before Harry Shipley drove both home with a single to left. That was all for Milto and he was removed in favor of Austin Foote. Foote ran into some problems of his own as he gave up a double to Nick Dalesandro. Dedelow had some trouble picking up the ball and that allowed Shipley to score from first. Foote then hit Skyler Hunter and was promptly pulled from the game. B.J. Sabol took over on the mound and forced McGowan to ground out to third for the second out. He then struck out Mike Madej to end the inning with the Hoosier lead at 13-5.

Indiana was able to respond to Purdue’s offensive awakening, as Krupa led off the inning with a single, then stole second. Krupa advanced to third on Miller’s fly ball to right center and was brought home when Sowers grounded a double up the third base line. Dedelow struck out to end the inning, but Indiana was able to extend their lead to 14-5.

Purdue put pressure on the Hoosiers’ bullpen yet again in the Bottom of the 9th. Poisall drew a one out walk, then Sabol made an incredible diving catch on Olund’s bunt attempt, and Purdue was down to their last out. Sabol then hit the next two batters, loading the bases for Dalesandro. Dalesandro responded by driving a grand slam over the wall in right center, cutting IU’s lead to 14-9. That was all for Sabol, as Luke Stephenson came in to replace him. Stephenson was able to force Hunter to ground out to first, ending a wild game with a 14-9 Hoosier victory.

Indiana improved to 16-13-2 (4-4-1), while Purdue fell to 17-14 (5-4). The Hoosiers are next in action on the road at Indiana state on Tuesday, April 11, and their next home game is against Minnesota on Friday, April 14.