KENNESAW, Ga. -- Purdue baseball enjoyed a 6-5 edge in the hit column, but left 10 runners on base while struggling mightily with situational hitting in a 5-2 loss at Kennesaw State on Saturday afternoon.
The Boilermakers (0-2) lost in 5-2 fashion for the second day in a row after being 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position and 0-for-10 with two outs Saturday.
Cody Strong went 2-for-3 with a double and a pair of walks while reaching base safely in four of his five plate appearances. He was aboard as Purdue brought the potential tying run to the plate with two outs in the seventh inning. But KSU's Richard Lovelady won an extended lefty-lefty battle with Kyle Wood by striking out the Boilermakers' cleanup hitter.
One bad inning marred what was an otherwise solid collegiate debut on the mound for freshman pitcher Nick Dalesandro. Three of the four hits he surrendered came in the third inning when the Owls (1-1) scored three times to open up a 4-0 lead. Dalesandro hit the first batter of the frame with the first pitch and three of the next four batters amidst the heart of KSU's lineup followed with hits, including a triple into the corner that got past a diving Brett Carlson in left field.
Purdue left two men on base in three consecutive innings late in the game and four times total. Wood and Strong led off innings with doubles but were both stranded at third base. Kennesaw State pitchers issued six walks over the final five innings of the game, but none of those base runners came around to score.
An inning-opening bunt single by Kyle Johnson and a double down the left field from Carlson helped the Boilermakers finally get on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh. Alec Olund followed with a sacrifice fly to right field. Carlson held his ground at third base on a subsequent grounder to first, but was aggressive on the base paths moments later, scampering home when the KSU first baseman dropped an ill-advised pickoff throw to first with Strong aboard.
Robb Woodcock needed just one pitch to win a lefty-lefty matchup vs. KSU's Austin Upshaw with two on and two outs in the top of the seventh. Upshaw had connected for a solo home run in his first at-bat. Mike Lutz worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning in his 70th career appearance.
Kennesaw State starter Gabe Friese and Dalesandro both struck out five. Friese limited Purdue to just two hits. Dalesandro did not issue a walk.
Lovelady struck out four of the five batters he faced, striking out the side in the eighth inning after issuing a leadoff walk.
The Boilermakers conclude their season-opening weekend at the Atlanta Challenge with Sunday's 1 p.m. game at first-time opponent Georgia State.