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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Patrick J. Smith struck out a career-high nine over seven innings of four-hit ball and Owen Jansen's RBI double was the big hit of the day as Purdue baseball won a 1-0 pitcher's duel with Penn State on Friday at Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers (9-16, 3-1 B1G) were victorious for the fifth time in their last six games. They have a 1.36 ERA and 57 strikeouts over the last six. Purdue has won 10 straight games at home in Big Ten play dating back to last season.
Jansen won a lefty-lefty matchup with PSU (14-7, 0-4 B1G) ace Dante Biasi (2-3) in the fourth inning, delivering a double to right field with runners on the corners. It was the sophomore's team-leading seventh two-bagger.
In his next plate appearance, Jansen inspired his teammates with his toughness. He was hit by a pitch in the mouth in the sixth inning, losing a tooth in the process. But he chose to remain in the game, with the designated hitter purportedly telling athletic trainer Casey Kohr, "stitch me up between innings, we've got a game to win," before trotting down to first base.
Jansen's two-run double was also the difference in the Boilermakers' last shutout win at home. The 2-0 victory vs. Michigan in the 2018 regular-season finale was the last Big Ten game played at Alexander prior to Friday.
Smith (3-1) worked a trio of 1-2-3 innings in his longest outing as a Boilermaker. The five through nine portion of the PSU lineup was 0-for-14 against the lefty. Smith recorded a pair of strikeouts in three different innings. He retired eight consecutive batters after issuing a four-pitch walk to open the game. In the process, the senior did not allow a run in the first inning for the first time this season. As a team, Purdue had given up a first-inning run in each of its previous six games.
With the infield drawn in, shortstop Evan Albrecht made a nice backhanded pick and first baseman Nick Evarts tagged the runner after leaping for the throw. Johnson followed that up with strikeouts vs. PSU's No. 3 and 4 hitters. It marked the second time this season that Johnson stranded an inherited runner at third base with no outs to preserve a one-run lead.
Bo Hofstra closed out the victory with a pair of strikeouts in a 1-2-3 ninth inning, finishing off a fifth straight Purdue win.
Ryan Howe went 3-for-3 with a sac bunt, posting his first collegiate three-hit game. Zac Fascia also reached base safely three times, scoring the only run after singling to open the fourth inning. Skyler Hunter's third-inning infield single extended his reached base safely streak in Big Ten play to 21 consecutive games. But Cole McKenzie's 18-game reached safely streak (in all games) came to an end. McKenzie was kept off base for only the second time in 25 games this season.
With 13 strikeouts, the Boilermakers posted a double-figure total for the seventh time in the last 10 games and 12th time in 25 games this year.
Game 2 of the series is slated for Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Patrick J. Smith struck out a career-high nine over seven innings of four-hit ball and Owen Jansen's RBI double was the big hit of the day as Purdue baseball won a 1-0 pitcher's duel with Penn State on Friday at Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers (9-16, 3-1 B1G) were victorious for the fifth time in their last six games. They have a 1.36 ERA and 57 strikeouts over the last six. Purdue has won 10 straight games at home in Big Ten play dating back to last season.
Jansen won a lefty-lefty matchup with PSU (14-7, 0-4 B1G) ace Dante Biasi (2-3) in the fourth inning, delivering a double to right field with runners on the corners. It was the sophomore's team-leading seventh two-bagger.
In his next plate appearance, Jansen inspired his teammates with his toughness. He was hit by a pitch in the mouth in the sixth inning, losing a tooth in the process. But he chose to remain in the game, with the designated hitter purportedly telling athletic trainer Casey Kohr, "stitch me up between innings, we've got a game to win," before trotting down to first base.
Jansen's two-run double was also the difference in the Boilermakers' last shutout win at home. The 2-0 victory vs. Michigan in the 2018 regular-season finale was the last Big Ten game played at Alexander prior to Friday.
Smith (3-1) worked a trio of 1-2-3 innings in his longest outing as a Boilermaker. The five through nine portion of the PSU lineup was 0-for-14 against the lefty. Smith recorded a pair of strikeouts in three different innings. He retired eight consecutive batters after issuing a four-pitch walk to open the game. In the process, the senior did not allow a run in the first inning for the first time this season. As a team, Purdue had given up a first-inning run in each of its previous six games.
Trent Johnson recorded the three biggest outs of the game, retiring the Nittany Lions' 2-3-4 batters in order in the top of the eighth to strand an inherited runner at third base. Johnson entered the game after a sinking line drive to left field turned into a leadoff triple for Gavin Homer when the freshly inserted Milo Beam dove over the top of it trying to make a highlight-reel catch..@Pj_Smith31 struck out a career-high 9 over 7 shutout innings to help #Purdue win a 1-0 pitcher's duel vs Penn State. Hear what the senior thought about his first start at Alexander. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/SLlH7DbXSA
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) March 29, 2019
With the infield drawn in, shortstop Evan Albrecht made a nice backhanded pick and first baseman Nick Evarts tagged the runner after leaping for the throw. Johnson followed that up with strikeouts vs. PSU's No. 3 and 4 hitters. It marked the second time this season that Johnson stranded an inherited runner at third base with no outs to preserve a one-run lead.
Bo Hofstra closed out the victory with a pair of strikeouts in a 1-2-3 ninth inning, finishing off a fifth straight Purdue win.
Ryan Howe went 3-for-3 with a sac bunt, posting his first collegiate three-hit game. Zac Fascia also reached base safely three times, scoring the only run after singling to open the fourth inning. Skyler Hunter's third-inning infield single extended his reached base safely streak in Big Ten play to 21 consecutive games. But Cole McKenzie's 18-game reached safely streak (in all games) came to an end. McKenzie was kept off base for only the second time in 25 games this season.
With 13 strikeouts, the Boilermakers posted a double-figure total for the seventh time in the last 10 games and 12th time in 25 games this year.
Game 2 of the series is slated for Saturday at 1 p.m. ET.
Full highlights from #Purdue's 1-0 win vs. Penn State, including Owen Jansen's big hit & all 9 Ks from Patrick Smith.#Boilermakers racked up 13 Ks, their 12th game this season with double-figures. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/lSZuIvDWLk
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) March 29, 2019