The Iowa Hawkeyes completed a three‑game sweep of Purdue at Principal Park, clinching the eighth seed for the Big Ten Tournament and snapping a seven‑game winning streak by the Boilermakers.
Key Performances
Freshman slugger Joey Nerat sparked the opener with a two‑run shot and later added a three‑run homer, while Kooper Schulte’s timely blast tied the game at six in the first contest.
In the second game, Jaixen Frost contributed a double and a two‑run homer, and Miles Risley’s 4‑for‑4 performance, including a grand slam, drove in five runs, cementing a 10‑4 victory.
The finale saw Risley continue his onslaught, going 4‑for‑4 with five RBI, and the Hawkeyes’ pitching staff held Purdue to just one run over five innings, preserving the sweep.
The sweep not only reversed Iowa’s recent two‑game sweep by Nebraska but also positioned them to meet Illinois in the tournament opener on Tuesday at 1 p.m. CST, a rematch of an earlier season series split.