(Interstat) — Nerat’s second homer, a three-run shot in the fifth inning, broke a 7-7 tie. He finished 2 for 4. Kyle Alivo earned the win, pitching five innings with four hits, one earned run and nine strikeouts. Kooper Schulte also homered for the Hawkeyes, who improved to 27-21.

Purdue fell to 34-16 despite 14 hits. Avery Moore went 3 for 5 with two RBIs. Brandon Rogers homered, and Jarvis Evans threw three scoreless innings with four strikeouts.

The Boilermakers jumped ahead 7-0 in the first two innings, but Iowa answered with seven runs in the fourth to tie the game. The decisive inning was the fifth when Nerat’s blast to right scored three. Purdue got one back in the seventh on a double by Swiderski but could not close the gap.

The teams play again Friday and Saturday in Iowa City.