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Purdue went on the road this weekend to a solid Maryland team and at least bloodied the nose of one of the Big Ten's best. The Boilers stunned the Terrapins on Friday afternoon in College Park for their first road win of the Big Ten season, but Maryland recovered to take the final two games and the series.
Friday: Purdue 7, Maryland 1
This was a shocking result, as starting pitcher Gavin Downs had his best outing of the year by far. The senior from Fort Wayne had been roughed up in many of his starts this year and had an ERA north of 6. He had been in an out of the rotation as a starter and had often not been very effective. Against the Terrapins, however, he was excellent. He scattered seven hits and gave up only a second inning run as he lasted eight innings for his first victory of the year. Tanner Andrews then worked a scoreless ninth to close it out.
At the plate Purdue had a big night from catcher James Jewell. He finished 3 for 4with two runs and two RBI as Purdue plated three in the third and one each in the first, fourth, fifth, and eighth. He had a solo homer in the eighth while Kyle Johnson had a solo homer in the first. Brett Carlson also had a two run single in the third for Purdue.
Saturday: Maryland 6, Purdue 0
Facing a first team All-American from last season Purdue had few answers. Mike Shawaryn won 13 games last season and easily handled Purdue by giving up only three hits in eight innings of work. He struck out 10 batters and walked only one as Purdue did not get a runner past first base all day long. Matt Frawley was once again solid, but had little support. He gave up 4 runs in seven innings without a real big inning against him, but there isn't a lot you can do when your offense can only advance a runner 90 feet.
Sunday: Maryland 11, Purdue 3
A five run third inning and five run seventh inning for the Terrapins ruined Purdue's day. Brett Carlson had three doubles, a run scored, and an RBI, but Purdue could not get the hits it needed as it left seven on base. Purdue led briefly at 1-0 after Carlson doubled and scored on a single from Alec Olund in the second, but Maryland responded with five runs in the third to chase Shane Bryant.
Purdue falls to 7-31 on the season and 2-13 in the Big Ten, but the win this weekend has them now tied with Northwestern for last place. The Boilers will go to Illinois State for a Tuesday night game before hosting Ohio State for three this coming weekend.