Michigan Splits Doubleheader Against Purdue to Win Series

Saturday, March 22

West Lafayette, Ind.

1:00 PM

Michigan

12-10, 4-4

Purdue

19-3, 3-2

Michigan

Purdue

Kurt Barr (Michigan Photography)

Michigan Splits Doubleheader Against Purdue to Win Series

3/22/2025 11:41:00 PM | Baseball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2 PDF Boxscore (Game 1)PDF Boxscore (Game 2)

By: Conor Stemme

» Michigan dropped the first game of the doubleheader 9-6 but rebounded to win the rubber match 12-9.
» Kurt Barr tallied a career-high 10 strikeouts across five innings, earning the win in game two.
» Cole Caruso homered in both games as part of a four-RBI, four-run day.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The University of Michigan baseball team split a doubleheader against Purdue, on Saturday afternoon (March 22) at Alexander Field. The Wolverines dropped the first game 9-6 but took the second game 12-9 to win the series.

Michigan (13-10, 5-4 Big Ten) was led by Cole Caruso, who tallied a home run in each game as part of a three-hit, four-run, four-RBI day. Kurt Barr (2-2) helped the Wolverines in game two, striking out 10 batters over five innings, and allowing five runs on six hits to earn the win. Benny Casillas tallied three hits and four RBI across the two games, while Matt Spear recorded three hits, two runs and two RBI.

In game one, Purdue (19-4, 3-3 Big Ten) controlled the game early, scoring one run in the second inning and two more in the third. The Boilermakers stranded eight runners through the first four innings while U-M tallied just one baserunner.

The Wolverine bats got going in the fifth with U-M sending 11 batters to the plate. The inning opened with a leadoff home run from Caruso for Michigan's first hit. U-M then loaded the bases on two walks and an error, and all three runners scored on a triple from Casillas. He later scored on a single from Jeter Ybarra, and U-M led 5-3. Purdue tied the game at five in the bottom of the inning, scoring two runs on one hit.

The Boilermakers took a 6-5 lead in the sixth after a one-out walk and a double.

Robert Hamchuk entered the game as a pinch hitter and homered to right field to tie the game in the top of the frame. Purdue immediately reclaimed the lead with a home run of its own and then used four walks and a wild pitch to add two more for a 9-6 advantage.

U-M loaded the bases with two outs in the ninth inning, but a strikeout ended the game.

Barr controlled the first four innings of game two. Purdue hit a solo home run in the first, but Barr recorded all three outs of the inning courtesy of the strikeout. He then struck out two more in the second.

Michigan's bats came alive in the third, scoring five runs on three hits. Mitch Voit reached on a fielder's choice, and a walk and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases. Spear delivered a two-run single to put U-M in front and Caruso followed with a three-run homer to put Michigan ahead 5-1. Barr struck out two more in the third, but the Boilermakers scored two unearned runs after an error to trail 5-3. Purdue put a runner in scoring position in the fourth, but Barr fanned a pair to end the threat.

In the fifth, Colby Turner opened the frame with a walk, Caruso walked two batters later and Brayden Jefferis was hit by a pitch to again load the bases. AJ Rausch walked on four pitches to push Turner home. Casillas brought home Caruso with a sacrifice fly and Jefferis scored on a wild pitch. A Hamchuk single scored Rausch to extend the U-M lead to 9-3. Purdue got three runs back after two walks and a home run, but Barr tallied his 10th strikeout of the day.

The Boilermakers got another run back in the sixth inning after a leadoff double and one-out single to get within two at 9-7.

With two outs in the seventh, Voit scored from second on a single from Turner to take its lead back to three runs, 10-7. Will Rogers pitched a scoreless seventh before the Wolverines added another run in the eighth when Caruso scored on a sacrifice fly from Cade Ladehoff.

The Wolverines surrendered a pair of runs in the bottom of the eighth and the Boilermakers trailed 11-9 heading into the ninth inning.

U-M added one more in the ninth on a dropped fly ball hit by Jefferis to give U-M a 12-9 cushion. Rogers pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to close out the game and the series.

Michigan will return home for a four-game homestand beginning with a non-conference matchup against Eastern Michigan on Tuesday (March 24) at the Wilpon Complex, home of Ray Fisher Stadium. First pitch is at 4 p.m., and the game will be streamed live on B1G+.