• Box score • LJS • OWH • HuskerOnline • Big Red Report • Purdue Athletics • BBS Photos • Huskers.com • LJS • OWH Video • Huskers.com The series • Game 1, 2, 3 | |
Huskers drop series finale to Purdue
 Kubat  Stock  Pritchard |
After NU (26-15, 8-7 Big Ten) tied the series 1-1 with an 8-3 win on Saturday, the Boilermakers responded by jumping out to a 6-0 lead in support of freshman starter Connor Podkul. The Purdue right-hander lasted 5.1 innings in the win while giving up three earned runs on five hits. Sophomore lefty Zach Hirsch fell to 4-3 with the loss, as he was pulled after giving up five earned runs on seven hits over 3.0 innings. Freshman Kyle Kubat was a bright spot for NU on the mound in 4.0 innings of relief, giving up one run on four hits. During Big Ten play, Kubat has given up one earned run on eight hits over 10.0 innings.
With a 2-0 lead going into the fourth, the Boilermakers took a commanding 6-0 lead following a three-run home run by David Miller. NU responded in the bottom of the frame with three runs to cut the lead in half. Pritchard opened the inning with a single, Rich Sanguinetti followed with an infield-bunt single, and Kash Kalkowski walked to load the bases with no outs. Stock then hit a hard ground ball down the first-base line that was gloved by Angelo Cianfrocco, who retired Stock at first, but Pritchard came home to score NU's first run. Josh Scheffert came through with a two-RBI single before Podkul got back-to-back ground balls to end the Husker rally.
The Huskers had something going again in the sixth with runners on second and third with one out following a double by Stock, but Purdue went to Nick Wittgren out of the bullpen, and he retired the next two Huskers to end the threat. The righty gave up just three hits in 3.2 inning of shutout ball to pick up his eighth save.
The Huskers now have a quick turnaround for their game Tuesday night with Creighton at TD Ameritrade Park in Omaha. Scheduled for a 6:35 p.m. first pitch on NET, the game is the second in the three-game season series between the two in-state programs. The Huskers won the first game, 5-3, on April 10 at Hawks Field.
R H E ------------------------------------------- Purdue.............. 110 400 101 - 8 15 1 Nebraska............ 000 300 000 - 3 8 2 -------------------------------------------