WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The Illinois baseball team was limited to two hits Saturday in a 4-1 loss at Purdue. The Illini will look to salvage the third game of the series Sunday at 2 p.m. CT on Big Ten Network after the Boilermakers won the first two games.
"We've pitched well in both days," said head coach Dan Hartleb. "We just haven't swung the bats well two days in a row. We need a better approach and we need to find a way to win."
Purdue (21-18, 8-6 Big Ten) left-hander Gareth Stroh had complete command of the strike zone, limiting Illinois to two hits over nine innings. He did not walk a batter and struck out eight in his first career complete game. Stroh faced two batters over the minimum and was one out away from a shutout.
Illinois (15-21, 3-8 Big Ten) scored its only run with two outs in the ninth when Jack Yalowitz connected on his eighth home run of the season. Michael Massey had a single in the fifth, Illinois' other hit, to extend his hitting streak to a season-high eight games.
Cyrillo Watson (1-4) was the tough-luck loser for the Illini. Watson threw a career-best six innings, while allowing just two first-inning runs. The freshman threw 96 pitches, 58 for strikes, and struck out three.
Purdue added two unearned insurance runs in the seventh when an E4 with two outs scored a pair off of reliever Quinten Sefcik. Sefcik (2.0 IP, 3 H) has not allowed an earned run over his last 9 2/3 innings pitched.
Tomorrow's series finale will air live on BTN. Senior Matthew James is scheduled to get the ball for Illinois.
