HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. – There was no lack of excitement at Ting Park on Saturday, as walk-off hits by CJ Valdez and Cam Thompson kept Purdue Baseball undefeated on the 2022 campaign. Valdez smacked a ninth-inning RBI double in game one, a 4-3 victory for Purdue, and Thompson followed with a game-winning RBI single in the nightcap as the Boilermakers (8-0) won 5-4 to complete the four-game sweep of the feisty Princeton Tigers.
With eight victories to start the season, Purdue is off to its best start since 1910. The Boilermakers have won nine straight games dating back to last season, the longest winning streak since rattling off 13 in-a-row during the 2018 campaign that resulted in an NCAA Regional berth.
Purdue captured two walk-off wins on the same day for the first time since 2015 when the Boilermakers beat Sam Houston State in the Corpus Christi Tournament.
The Boilermakers remain in North Carolina, but have a few days off before returning to the diamond. Purdue makes the trip to Charlotte for its first true road game of the season Wednesday, March 2. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
Game 1: Purdue 4, Princeton 3
Full count, two outs, bottom of the ninth, tie game – the scenario that a baseball player dreams of as a kid. That became reality for CJ Valdez, and the Boilermaker delivered with a double to left field that lifted Purdue to a 4-3 walk-off victory in game one.
Along with scoring the game-winning run, Curtis Washington Jr. went 3-for-4 at the plate and had a RBI of his own. Evan Albrecht recorded three hits for the third straight game this weekend, providing a spark at the bottom of the lineup. While the duo of Washington and Albrecht combined for six hits, five other Boilermakers recorded a hit throughout the nine-inning affair.
Princeton plated the game's first run in the third before the Boilermakers scored in the fifth to even the contest at 1-1. Albrecht legged out an infield single to start the inning, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mike Bolton Jr. Stepping up with a runner in scoring position, Washington found a hole through the left side to bring Albrecht home and tie the game.
The sixth inning was all about opportunities. The Tigers loaded the bases, looking to build a big inning and grab the lead back. However, Landon Weins came up with a huge strikeout to end the frame and prevent any damage. The momentum carried into the bottom of the inning, as Purdue scored a pair of runs to make it 3-1. In his Boilermaker debut, Pablo Lanzarote drove in Cam Thompson on a sacrifice fly to right field before Albrecht's third hit of the game scored Troy Viola to give Purdue a two-run advantage.
Princeton loaded the bases in the seventh, but this time, head coach Greg Goff made a pitching change. Griffin Lohman came out of the bullpen with the bases full of Tigers, and the Purdue relieve got the job done with a strikeout to end the threat.
After going 0-for-11 with runners on base through the first eight innings, the Tigers got things going in their last at-bats. Princeton stayed alive with two runs in the ninth, tying the game at 3-3. Despite the momentum switching to the opposing dugout, Purdue remained focused with the top of the lineup coming to the dish. Washington singled up the middle to represent the winning run on base. Facing a full count with two outs, Valdez roped a double to the left field wall. The speedy Washington flew around the bases, sliding head first into home to give Purdue the walk-off win.
Game 2: Purdue 5, Princeton 4
Just like in game one, Purdue produced some ninth-inning magic to capture another walk-off victory. This time, it was Cam Thompson bringing in Curtis Washington Jr. for the winning run as the Boilermakers captured the contest 5-4.
Thompson led the way throughout the game, knocking in the first two runs to go along with the game-winner in the ninth for a 3-RBI evening. Washington scored two of the three times he reached base, both courtesy of Thompson hits.
Freshman Khal Stephen (1-0) pitched a scoreless ninth inning, striking out two of the four batters he faced, to earn his first victory as a Boilermaker. Starting pitcher CJ Backer was in line for the win after tossing 5.0 innings and allowing only one run on five hits.
The Boilermakers wasted no time jumping on the board with a pair of runs in the first. Thompson ripped a double right field that scored two of his teammates. The good piece of 2-out hitting put Purdue up early.
Purdue doubled its lead in the fourth. Troy Viola led off the inning by tucking a solo homer inside the left field foul pole. A Princeton error gave the Boilermakers an extra life in the inning, which paid off courtesy of a Mike Bolton Jr. sacrifice fly that made it 4-0 in favor of the Old Gold and Black.
The Tigers continued to fight, battling back to tie the game with four unanswered runs. One run in and the fifth and two in the sixth sliced the Purdue lead to one, and Princeton had a chance to flip the game on its head in the seventh. With the bases loaded full of Tigers, Nolan Daniel came out of the bullpen and recorded a vital strikeout to keep the Boilermakers in front. However, the Tigers finally got the tying run they were looking for in the eighth inning as they roared back to make it a whole new ballgame at 4-4.
After Stephen kept Princeton off the board in the top of the ninth, Washington drew a one-out walk to once again become the winning run on base. He eventually stole second and third base to get 90 feet from home. Since CJ Valdez delivered the game-winning hit in the first contest, Princeton elected to walk the Purdue designated hitter to get to Thompson. The move did not pay off, as Thompson lifted a ball into left field for an RBI single that led to the Boilermakers sprinting out of the dugout to celebrate another walk-off victory. The unbeaten season remained alive and a four-game sweep was completed for the second straight weekend.
With eight victories to start the season, Purdue is off to its best start since 1910. The Boilermakers have won nine straight games dating back to last season, the longest winning streak since rattling off 13 in-a-row during the 2018 campaign that resulted in an NCAA Regional berth.
Purdue captured two walk-off wins on the same day for the first time since 2015 when the Boilermakers beat Sam Houston State in the Corpus Christi Tournament.
The Boilermakers remain in North Carolina, but have a few days off before returning to the diamond. Purdue makes the trip to Charlotte for its first true road game of the season Wednesday, March 2. First pitch is set for 4 p.m.
Game 1: Purdue 4, Princeton 3
Full count, two outs, bottom of the ninth, tie game – the scenario that a baseball player dreams of as a kid. That became reality for CJ Valdez, and the Boilermaker delivered with a double to left field that lifted Purdue to a 4-3 walk-off victory in game one.
Along with scoring the game-winning run, Curtis Washington Jr. went 3-for-4 at the plate and had a RBI of his own. Evan Albrecht recorded three hits for the third straight game this weekend, providing a spark at the bottom of the lineup. While the duo of Washington and Albrecht combined for six hits, five other Boilermakers recorded a hit throughout the nine-inning affair.
Princeton plated the game's first run in the third before the Boilermakers scored in the fifth to even the contest at 1-1. Albrecht legged out an infield single to start the inning, advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Mike Bolton Jr. Stepping up with a runner in scoring position, Washington found a hole through the left side to bring Albrecht home and tie the game.
The sixth inning was all about opportunities. The Tigers loaded the bases, looking to build a big inning and grab the lead back. However, Landon Weins came up with a huge strikeout to end the frame and prevent any damage. The momentum carried into the bottom of the inning, as Purdue scored a pair of runs to make it 3-1. In his Boilermaker debut, Pablo Lanzarote drove in Cam Thompson on a sacrifice fly to right field before Albrecht's third hit of the game scored Troy Viola to give Purdue a two-run advantage.
Princeton loaded the bases in the seventh, but this time, head coach Greg Goff made a pitching change. Griffin Lohman came out of the bullpen with the bases full of Tigers, and the Purdue relieve got the job done with a strikeout to end the threat.
After going 0-for-11 with runners on base through the first eight innings, the Tigers got things going in their last at-bats. Princeton stayed alive with two runs in the ninth, tying the game at 3-3. Despite the momentum switching to the opposing dugout, Purdue remained focused with the top of the lineup coming to the dish. Washington singled up the middle to represent the winning run on base. Facing a full count with two outs, Valdez roped a double to the left field wall. The speedy Washington flew around the bases, sliding head first into home to give Purdue the walk-off win.
Game 2: Purdue 5, Princeton 4
Just like in game one, Purdue produced some ninth-inning magic to capture another walk-off victory. This time, it was Cam Thompson bringing in Curtis Washington Jr. for the winning run as the Boilermakers captured the contest 5-4.
Thompson led the way throughout the game, knocking in the first two runs to go along with the game-winner in the ninth for a 3-RBI evening. Washington scored two of the three times he reached base, both courtesy of Thompson hits.
Freshman Khal Stephen (1-0) pitched a scoreless ninth inning, striking out two of the four batters he faced, to earn his first victory as a Boilermaker. Starting pitcher CJ Backer was in line for the win after tossing 5.0 innings and allowing only one run on five hits.
The Boilermakers wasted no time jumping on the board with a pair of runs in the first. Thompson ripped a double right field that scored two of his teammates. The good piece of 2-out hitting put Purdue up early.
Purdue doubled its lead in the fourth. Troy Viola led off the inning by tucking a solo homer inside the left field foul pole. A Princeton error gave the Boilermakers an extra life in the inning, which paid off courtesy of a Mike Bolton Jr. sacrifice fly that made it 4-0 in favor of the Old Gold and Black.
The Tigers continued to fight, battling back to tie the game with four unanswered runs. One run in and the fifth and two in the sixth sliced the Purdue lead to one, and Princeton had a chance to flip the game on its head in the seventh. With the bases loaded full of Tigers, Nolan Daniel came out of the bullpen and recorded a vital strikeout to keep the Boilermakers in front. However, the Tigers finally got the tying run they were looking for in the eighth inning as they roared back to make it a whole new ballgame at 4-4.
After Stephen kept Princeton off the board in the top of the ninth, Washington drew a one-out walk to once again become the winning run on base. He eventually stole second and third base to get 90 feet from home. Since CJ Valdez delivered the game-winning hit in the first contest, Princeton elected to walk the Purdue designated hitter to get to Thompson. The move did not pay off, as Thompson lifted a ball into left field for an RBI single that led to the Boilermakers sprinting out of the dugout to celebrate another walk-off victory. The unbeaten season remained alive and a four-game sweep was completed for the second straight weekend.