After Sunday's loss, here's how Purdue can still win the Big Ten

Three runs separated Purdue and Michigan Saturday and Sunday as the Boilers dropped a consecutive Big Ten series for the first time since March.

After losing to the Wolverines 8-6 Sunday, Purdue (33-19, 13-8 Big Ten) has now rubbed shoulders with season-defining wins over the last two weekends but come up short. The Achilles' heel has been knockout punches: In two losses each to Indiana and Michigan, Purdue's opponent has put up the highest-scoring inning of the game.

After Sunday's games across the league, Purdue is in a three-way tie for third in the Big Ten with Indiana and Michigan. Above that group are Nebraska, at 14-7, and Illinois in first at 15-6. Purdue would usually be more of a long shot for a title at two games back, but the Boilers are in luck – they play Illinois next weekend at home.

Purdue needs a sweep, plain and simple. A three-game series means tying the Illini at the top is impossible. In the event of a sweep, the Boilers would earn at least a share of the Big Ten crown so long as middling Michigan State can hold off a Nebraska sweep. A note – the Big Ten has not had a shared championship since 2011.

Even if Purdue misses out on a title, its NCAA Tournament resume could still be impressive enough to get the Boilers into the 64-team tournament field, though at 70th in the RPI rankings it is currently on the bubble.

That's where the Big Ten Tournament comes in. The tournament ends the day before the NCAA field is announced, and gives Purdue a significant opportunity for resume building if it can go on a deep run against quality competition.

The Boilers did themselves no favors on this front, though. Tiebreakers in tournament seeding are determined by head-to-head results, so Purdue would get bumped down if it were tied in the standings with Indiana, Michigan or Iowa, all teams the Boilers lost series to this season. That would come with a path against higher seeds in earlier rounds for Purdue.

The series with Illinois begins Thursday at 6 p.m. at Alexander Field.