Purdue Baseball Closes Season with Two Wins

Weather was a factor in this weekend’s hybrid series in West Lafayette. A single game each between Penn State and Purdue and Penn State and Minnesota were cancelled. Thursday’s game between Purdue and Penn State was started, but did not finish until Saturday. All told, Purdue got in three games, winning two of them.

Purdue 7, Penn State 4

The Boilers take the season series over the Nittany Lions 2-1 after getting three runs in the 4th and three runs in the seventh. The game was suspended in the third with Penn State leading 2-1, but Zac Fascia tied it with a solo home run in the fourth. Purdue pushed across two more runs in the inning with Skyler Hunter earning an RBI on a single. He would rive in two more in the seventh.

Senior Trent Johnson came on in relief starting on Saturday and was great in his final Purdue appearance. He earned his fourth win of the season by giving up two runs over 5 innings of relief. Jackson Smeltz also earned his second save with a scoreless ninth.

Minnesota 2, Purdue 1

In game 1 of a Sunday doubleheader Purdue’s offense disappeared again. The Gophers got a first inning home run from Zack Raabe and a second inning run on an error to go up 2-0. Tyler Powers drove in Ryan how with a fourth inning single, but that was all Purdue could muster. Cory Brooks was the hard luck loser, going 7 ²⁄₃ and scattering 7 hits. Purdue left the tying run on base in each of the last three innings.

Purdue 7, Minnesota 6

A five run sixth inning was critical as Purdue came back from down 6-1 to steal a win in the final game of the season. Mason Gavre had a two run double in the inning and Justin Walker Jr. had a two run single to spark the comeback. Gavre them singled in Michael Bolton Jr. in the seventh for the final run and the lead.

Calvin Schapira, who started the Thursday game before weather moved in, came on to close the game and earn his second win with three innings of shutout baseball.

Purdue closed the season at 16-26 and three players earned all-Big Ten honors. Ben Nisle, Miles Simington, and Mike Bolton Jr. were all Third Team all-Big Ten selections. Trent Johnson won the sportsmanship award. The Boilers now have an extensive rebuild with several seniors and regular contributors departing after this year. Calvin Schapira, Cory Brooks, and Jett Jackson should return as the top three in the rotation. Four of the top 5 hitters will be gone, however, from a team that already struggled offensively.

Purdue did at least get one victory over Big Ten champion Nebraska, so there is that.