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GOLDANDBLACK EXPRESS • VOLUME 25, EXPRESS 27 • 25 BY TRAVIS BAUGH TBaugh@Purdue.edu A fter showing signs of improvement early in the season, the baseball team has tak- en a step backward during conference play. Since winning its Big Ten opener 9-5 over Rutgers, Purdue has dropped its last 11 con- ference games after losing its two to the Scar- let Knights and getting swept by Iowa, Illinois and Michigan. Outside of Kyle John- son, who has overcome a poor non-conference showing to hit .372 in Big Ten play, Purdue has struggled to find any con- sistency throughout its lineup. Purdue is hitting .225 in conference play while averaging 2.8 runs per game, more than two runs fewer than every other team in the Big Ten. The Boilermakers rank last in the Big Ten in ev- ery major offensive category except for home runs, where they are fourth with nine. "We're struggling to get that clutch at-bat, that clutch hit," second baseman Cody Strong said. "We're strug- gling to manufacture runs in general. Getting bunts down … hopefully we can start clearing some of those little things up." Coach Doug Schreiber has tried several different strategies in hopes of jump- starting the lineup. He has shifted the batting order on an almost game-by-game basis, using 11 different lineups in 12 conference games. Personnel changes have occurred as well. While Purdue has used the same in- field and center fielder in all 12 conference games and Jack Picchiotti at catcher in 11, Jordan Lewis, Alec Olund, Daniel Sander, Ted Snidanko and Michael Vilardo have each re- ceived four or more starts at designated hitter or the corner outfield spots. "Right now we're just trying to find the right mix with the lineup," Strong said. "Once that right mix comes along, I think we'll start clicking and (get it) turned around." When Purdue has gotten runners on base, it's been unable to take advantage of the opportunity. Take the Iowa and Illinois series for exam- ple, where Purdue went 6-for-23 and 3-for-28, respectively, with runners in scoring position. "When you don't get too many oppor- tunities, you have to be able to cash in," Sch- reiber said following the Iowa series finale. "We just haven't been able to do it. We have to create more of those opportunities." Purdue's rotation took a major hit when Mike Kornacker reaggravated a back injury leading up to the Iowa series. Purdue went 3–3 with Kornacker as its Friday starter, as the freshman compiled a 1-2 record with a 3.00 ERA in six starts. The Boilermakers shifted mid-week starter Shane Bryant into Kornacker's Friday slot and have gone 0-3 since as the transfer has given up 13 earned runs in just 11-plus innings. Purdue's Saturday and Sunday starters, DIAMOND DIFFICULTIES Conference losing streak grows to 11 Purdue Matt Frawley holds a 1-7 record and 4.91 ERA in his first year in Purdue's rotation. Purdue Joe Eichmann has starred in Purdue's bullpen with a 2.88 ERA in 18 appearances. BOTTOM OF THE PACK After winning a school-record 45 games in 2012, Purdue has the worst winning percentage in the Big Ten in the last two-and-a-half seasons. Indiana 114-46 .713 Maryland 27-11 .711 Illinois 99-47-1 .678 Nebraska 99-64 .607 Ohio State 91-61 .599 Michigan St. 86-59 .593 Iowa 78-61 .561 Minnesota 75-65 .536 Michigan 83-72-1 .535 Northwestern 52-85 .380 Penn State 44-91 .326 Rutgers 12-26-1 .308 Purdue 42-98 .300