HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. – Purdue Baseball improved to 6-0 for the first time since 1959, sweeping Princeton in a doubleheader Friday at Ting Park in Holly Springs, North Carolina. The Boilermakers (6-0) belted eight doubles over the twinbill, helping them take game one 9-3 before an 8-3 victory in game two.
Purdue shortstop Evan Albrecht was the hottest hitter of the day, going 3-for-4 in both contests. His six hits bumped his batting average to .500 on the young season. Designated hitter CJ Valdez did his job, tallying four hits and five RBI throughout the doubleheader.
On the mound, Purdue starting pitchers Jackson Smeltz (1-0) and Wyatt Wendell (1-0) were efficient to earn victories. The Boilermaker bullpen allowed only one earned run over 5.2 innings of work.
With inclement weather in Sunday's forecast, the Boilermakers and Tigers (0-2) will play a doubleheader Saturday (Feb. 26). First pitch for game one is slated for 1 p.m. with game two beginning 45 minutes following the conclusion of the first game.
Game 1: Purdue 9, Princeton 3
The game started out as a pitcher's duel before a five-run seventh inning broke the game wide open for Purdue. Smeltz struck out a career-high 11 over 5.1 innings, while allowing only one run on four hits. Valdez went 2-for-4 with three RBI, as the Boilermakers claimed the 9-3 victory.
Albrecht produced at the bottom of the lineup, racking up three hits and a pair of RBI. Curtis Washington Jr. contributed a multi-hit game as well, and leadoff hitter Mike Bolton Jr. got on base twice to score a pair of runs.
Princeton's ace, Jackson Emus, pitched a fine game but had to settle for the loss. The tall right-hander lasted six innings and surrendered only two runs (one earned) on four hits to go along with six punchouts.
After a 1-2-3 inning from Smeltz, the Boilermakers wasted no time in getting on the board. Bolton Jr. drew a leadoff walk before stealing second base to get into scoring position. Valdez drove in his teammate, giving Purdue an early 1-0 lead.
With Purdue ahead 2-1 in the top of the seventh, the Tigers threatened by putting runners on the corners. However, Griffin Lohman got out of the jam, and the Boilermakers increased their cushion in the bottom half of the frame. Three straight hits, including doubles by Paul Toetz and Valdez, made it a three-run ballgame. After Purdue loaded the bases, Troy Viola blasted a shot to dead center field that plated two more Boilermakers. The five-run inning made it 7-1 in favor of Purdue.
Game 2: Purdue 8, Princeton 3
Wendell tossed seven complete innings, the longest outing by a Purdue pitcher this season, and the Boilermaker bats scored seven runs over the middle innings to cruise to an 8-3 victory in game two.
Each time Princeton scored early, the Boilermakers responded with runs of their own. In the second, Jake Parr blasted a solo shot to left field to tie the game at 1-1. After Nadir Lewis hit a home run of his own to give the lead back to the Tigers in the fourth, Purdue answered with a pair of runs. The Boilermakers loaded the bases, and Albrecht singled home the game-tying run. An RBI groundout by Bolton plated the tiebreaking run, as Purdue surged ahead 3-2.
The Boilermakers kept their foot on the gas, adding three more runs in the fifth and two in the sixth. Wendell remained in cruise control on the rubber. After giving up the solo homer in the fourth, the Purdue pitcher retired 11 of the final 12 batters he faced and only needed 72 pitches to complete seven innings of work.
Coming out of the bullpen, Khal Steven pitched the final two innings and prevented a Princeton comeback.
Purdue shortstop Evan Albrecht was the hottest hitter of the day, going 3-for-4 in both contests. His six hits bumped his batting average to .500 on the young season. Designated hitter CJ Valdez did his job, tallying four hits and five RBI throughout the doubleheader.
On the mound, Purdue starting pitchers Jackson Smeltz (1-0) and Wyatt Wendell (1-0) were efficient to earn victories. The Boilermaker bullpen allowed only one earned run over 5.2 innings of work.
With inclement weather in Sunday's forecast, the Boilermakers and Tigers (0-2) will play a doubleheader Saturday (Feb. 26). First pitch for game one is slated for 1 p.m. with game two beginning 45 minutes following the conclusion of the first game.
Game 1: Purdue 9, Princeton 3
The game started out as a pitcher's duel before a five-run seventh inning broke the game wide open for Purdue. Smeltz struck out a career-high 11 over 5.1 innings, while allowing only one run on four hits. Valdez went 2-for-4 with three RBI, as the Boilermakers claimed the 9-3 victory.
Albrecht produced at the bottom of the lineup, racking up three hits and a pair of RBI. Curtis Washington Jr. contributed a multi-hit game as well, and leadoff hitter Mike Bolton Jr. got on base twice to score a pair of runs.
Princeton's ace, Jackson Emus, pitched a fine game but had to settle for the loss. The tall right-hander lasted six innings and surrendered only two runs (one earned) on four hits to go along with six punchouts.
After a 1-2-3 inning from Smeltz, the Boilermakers wasted no time in getting on the board. Bolton Jr. drew a leadoff walk before stealing second base to get into scoring position. Valdez drove in his teammate, giving Purdue an early 1-0 lead.
With Purdue ahead 2-1 in the top of the seventh, the Tigers threatened by putting runners on the corners. However, Griffin Lohman got out of the jam, and the Boilermakers increased their cushion in the bottom half of the frame. Three straight hits, including doubles by Paul Toetz and Valdez, made it a three-run ballgame. After Purdue loaded the bases, Troy Viola blasted a shot to dead center field that plated two more Boilermakers. The five-run inning made it 7-1 in favor of Purdue.
Game 2: Purdue 8, Princeton 3
Wendell tossed seven complete innings, the longest outing by a Purdue pitcher this season, and the Boilermaker bats scored seven runs over the middle innings to cruise to an 8-3 victory in game two.
Each time Princeton scored early, the Boilermakers responded with runs of their own. In the second, Jake Parr blasted a solo shot to left field to tie the game at 1-1. After Nadir Lewis hit a home run of his own to give the lead back to the Tigers in the fourth, Purdue answered with a pair of runs. The Boilermakers loaded the bases, and Albrecht singled home the game-tying run. An RBI groundout by Bolton plated the tiebreaking run, as Purdue surged ahead 3-2.
The Boilermakers kept their foot on the gas, adding three more runs in the fifth and two in the sixth. Wendell remained in cruise control on the rubber. After giving up the solo homer in the fourth, the Purdue pitcher retired 11 of the final 12 batters he faced and only needed 72 pitches to complete seven innings of work.
Coming out of the bullpen, Khal Steven pitched the final two innings and prevented a Princeton comeback.