WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (Interstat) — Zach Erdman pitched six dominant innings to lead Purdue to an 11-4 victory over Murray State on Saturday afternoon at Alexander Field.

Erdman allowed five hits, struck out eight and did not allow an earned run as the Boilermakers improved to 30-15 overall. The Racers dropped to 26-20.

Purdue jumped to a 2-0 lead in the first inning on RBI singles by Avery Moore and Alexander Richmond. The Boilermakers tacked on three more in the third, keyed by an RBI double from Aaron Manias and a run-scoring single from Richmond, along with a run batted in by Cole Boyle to make it 5-0.

After a solo home run by Sam Flores in the fourth inning stretched the lead to 6-0, Purdue broke the game open with a five-run fifth. Avery Moore doubled and scored on a double by Collin Bessette. After a walk and a hit-by-pitch, Nick Anderson delivered a two-run single. Quincy Malbrough then doubled down the right-field line, driving in two more to make it 11-0.

Murray State’s only offense came in the sixth inning. With two outs, Kainen Jorge walked, Jaxon Diamon reached on an error and Daylan Pena singled to load the bases. Jackson McCoy then hit a grand slam over the right-field wall, plating four unearned runs to cut the deficit to 11-4.

Derek Lebron pitched three scoreless innings of relief for the Racers, allowing no hits and striking out three. But the early deficit proved insurmountable as Purdue’s bullpen combination of Nick Kolze, who threw two innings with one hit allowed, and Jackson Greer, who struck out two in a perfect ninth, shut the door.

Purdue outhit Murray State 16-6. The Racers grounded into two double plays.

The victory was Purdue’s second in as many days over Murray State, following a 7-5 win Friday.

Erdman’s outing was a bounce-back performance after he allowed four earned runs in two innings against Southern California on April 25.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Murray State 7, Purdue 6. Interstat’s ELO system gave Purdue a 51.60 percent probability to win.