SUGAR LAND, Texas – Landon Weins and Griffin Lohman teamed up to strike out 11 of the 20 batters they faced over 6 1/3 innings of two-hit relief, setting the stage for Purdue baseball to rally for a 5-4 victory vs. South Dakota State on Friday's national Opening Day.
The Boilermakers overcame an early 4-1 deficit, rallying for a season-opening win for the third year in a row. They've won on Opening Day three years in a row for the first time since 2011 to 2013. Overall, Purdue has been victorious on Opening Day in five of the last six seasons dating back to 2017.
Paul Toetz homered in his first at-bat as a Boilermaker, opening the scoring with an opposite-field shot to right field in the first inning. He became the first Purdue player to homer in a season opener since 2018 and just the fourth newcomer since 2010 to homer in his team debut on Opening Day – joining Cameron Perkins (2010), Conner Hudnall (2013) and Ben Nisle (2018).
Weins retired the first 12 batters he faced, striking out a career-high seven in his finest outing as a Boilermaker. Griffin Lohman went six-up, six-down through the four through nine portion of the SDSU lineup, punching out four while earning his first collegiate save. The pitching staff finished with 13 strikeouts Friday.
Purdue has racked up a double-figure strikeout total in its Opening Day win each of the last three seasons.
The Boilermakers scored four of their five runs with two outs. They also responded quickly with a three-spot in the bottom of the third after South Dakota State scored four times with two outs, hitting two home runs, in the top half of the frame.
Curtis Washington Jr. knocked in the go-ahead run with a two-out double in the seventh inning, finishing the day with two hits and two RBI in his Purdue debut. He teamed with leadoff man Mike Bolton Jr. to produce the game-deciding run after the Jackrabbits retired the first two batters of the bottom of the seventh. Bolton drew a two-out walk, stole second and took third when the throw went into center field. Washington followed with a bounding ball over the third baseman's head.
Bolton and Washington were also aboard with two outs in the third inning when Cam Thompson worked the count full. The runners being in motion on the pitch allowed Washington to score from second base on Thompson's hot shot into the hole on the left side even though the SDSU shortstop kept the ball on the infield.
Troy Viola made two nice plays at third base early in the game in his Purdue debut. He snared a line drive to end the first inning and a diving stop to take away a one-out single the following frame.
The series continues Saturday with 2 p.m. ET doubleheader.
The Boilermakers overcame an early 4-1 deficit, rallying for a season-opening win for the third year in a row. They've won on Opening Day three years in a row for the first time since 2011 to 2013. Overall, Purdue has been victorious on Opening Day in five of the last six seasons dating back to 2017.
Paul Toetz homered in his first at-bat as a Boilermaker, opening the scoring with an opposite-field shot to right field in the first inning. He became the first Purdue player to homer in a season opener since 2018 and just the fourth newcomer since 2010 to homer in his team debut on Opening Day – joining Cameron Perkins (2010), Conner Hudnall (2013) and Ben Nisle (2018).
Weins retired the first 12 batters he faced, striking out a career-high seven in his finest outing as a Boilermaker. Griffin Lohman went six-up, six-down through the four through nine portion of the SDSU lineup, punching out four while earning his first collegiate save. The pitching staff finished with 13 strikeouts Friday.
Purdue has racked up a double-figure strikeout total in its Opening Day win each of the last three seasons.
The Boilermakers scored four of their five runs with two outs. They also responded quickly with a three-spot in the bottom of the third after South Dakota State scored four times with two outs, hitting two home runs, in the top half of the frame.
Curtis Washington Jr. knocked in the go-ahead run with a two-out double in the seventh inning, finishing the day with two hits and two RBI in his Purdue debut. He teamed with leadoff man Mike Bolton Jr. to produce the game-deciding run after the Jackrabbits retired the first two batters of the bottom of the seventh. Bolton drew a two-out walk, stole second and took third when the throw went into center field. Washington followed with a bounding ball over the third baseman's head.
Bolton and Washington were also aboard with two outs in the third inning when Cam Thompson worked the count full. The runners being in motion on the pitch allowed Washington to score from second base on Thompson's hot shot into the hole on the left side even though the SDSU shortstop kept the ball on the infield.
Troy Viola made two nice plays at third base early in the game in his Purdue debut. He snared a line drive to end the first inning and a diving stop to take away a one-out single the following frame.
The series continues Saturday with 2 p.m. ET doubleheader.