WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (Interstat) — In a tense pitchers’ duel that defied pregame projections, the Purdue Boilermakers edged the Oregon Ducks 2-1 on Saturday evening at Alexander Field, earning a split of the first two games of their Big Ten series.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a high-scoring Oregon victory, but the contest instead became a showcase for clutch pitching and one decisive offensive inning. The win improved Purdue’s record to 9-4, while Oregon fell to 11-3.

The game’s defining moment arrived in the bottom of the third inning. After Oregon starter Collin Clarke had cruised through the first two frames, Purdue’s Mike Rogers led off with a single to right field, stole second and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt after a hit-by-pitch. With two outs, left fielder Aaron Manias delivered the critical blow, lining a two-run single through the right side to score Rogers and Connor Highfill. Those were the only runs and only hits Clarke would allow in a masterful but hard-luck complete-game effort. The Oregon right-hander finished with eight innings pitched, yielding just those two third-inning hits while striking out nine.

Purdue’s victory was anchored by starter Zach Erdman, who rebounded strongly from a rough outing six days prior against Marist. The right-hander blanked the potent Ducks offense over five innings, scattering five hits and striking out seven to earn the win. He worked out of a jam in the third after Oregon put two runners on with none out, preserving a then-scoreless tie.

Oregon, which had eight hits to Purdue’s six, threatened repeatedly but struggled to capitalize. The Ducks left two runners on base in both the second and sixth innings. Their lone run came in the eighth when first baseman Gabe Miranda launched a solo home run to right field off reliever Thomas Howard, cutting the deficit to 2-1. Howard was pulled after Miranda’s homer and a subsequent error, but the Purdue bullpen sealed the win.

Following Howard, relievers Joe Trenerry and Jake Kramer combined for 1 1/3 perfect innings of relief. Kramer, entering with a runner on first in the ninth, recorded two strikeouts to end the game and earn the save, fanning Marcus Molony looking with the tying run on second base.

The teams conclude their three-game series on Sunday afternoon.