WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The bullpen worked six innings of one-run ball after the Boilermakers scored in five of the first six innings, keeping No. 21 Purdue baseball unbeaten on the season with a 7-4 victory vs. Bellarmine on Sunday at Alexander Field.
At 14-0, the Boilermakers continued their best start in program history and moved within one victory of tying the longest win streak (16) in the 135-year history of baseball at the university. With Clemson and Virginia both losing Sunday, Purdue finished the day as the final unbeaten team remaining nationally.
Cam Thompson hit a towering home run to left field in the third inning, giving Purdue the lead for good. He was also hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the first inning, forcing home the Boilermakers' first run for the second game in a row. Thompson leads the Big Ten with 23 RBI and has joined leadoff man Mike Bolton Jr. as players to reach base safely in each of the first 14 games.
CJ Backer (1-0) punched out seven of the first 11 batters he faced in his Alexander Field debut, working 3 2/3 innings of one-run relief. He struck out the side in the top of the sixth to work around a one-out double.
Eric Hildebrand retired Bellarmine's 3-4-5 hitters across the seventh and eighth innings, Griffin Lohman stranded a pair of inherited runners in the top of the eighth and Khal Stephen struck out the only batter he faced to leave the bases loaded as the freshman closed out the win in his Alexander Field debut.
Troy Viola doubled and scored on the heels of Thompson's third-inning homer. He also came through with a pair of sacrifice flies. Viola is riding a 12-game on-base streak. Curtis Washington Jr. gave Purdue three productive plate appearances as well, recording a pair of singles and an RBI ground out. He has scored a run in 13 of the first 14 games.
Evan Albrecht delivered an RBI double to knock in the Boilermakers' final run in the sixth inning.
CJ Valdez leads the team with a .521 on-base percentage, reaching base safely twice more Sunday to extend his on-base streak to 10 consecutive games. He was hit by a pitch to load the bases in the first inning and came through with a leadoff single in the bottom of the fifth.
The Boilermakers racked up 12 strikeouts, registering a double-figure total for the 10th time in 14 games this season.
Purdue returns to action Tuesday when it hosts Dayton at 4 p.m. ET.
At 14-0, the Boilermakers continued their best start in program history and moved within one victory of tying the longest win streak (16) in the 135-year history of baseball at the university. With Clemson and Virginia both losing Sunday, Purdue finished the day as the final unbeaten team remaining nationally.
Cam Thompson hit a towering home run to left field in the third inning, giving Purdue the lead for good. He was also hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the first inning, forcing home the Boilermakers' first run for the second game in a row. Thompson leads the Big Ten with 23 RBI and has joined leadoff man Mike Bolton Jr. as players to reach base safely in each of the first 14 games.
CJ Backer (1-0) punched out seven of the first 11 batters he faced in his Alexander Field debut, working 3 2/3 innings of one-run relief. He struck out the side in the top of the sixth to work around a one-out double.
Eric Hildebrand retired Bellarmine's 3-4-5 hitters across the seventh and eighth innings, Griffin Lohman stranded a pair of inherited runners in the top of the eighth and Khal Stephen struck out the only batter he faced to leave the bases loaded as the freshman closed out the win in his Alexander Field debut.
Purdue's leadoff man reached base safely four times and came around to score in all four frames.Another #4faves from the @PurdueBaseball game this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/yClXNxQ6MT
— Dave Wegiel Photo (@pinolaphoto) March 13, 2022
Troy Viola doubled and scored on the heels of Thompson's third-inning homer. He also came through with a pair of sacrifice flies. Viola is riding a 12-game on-base streak. Curtis Washington Jr. gave Purdue three productive plate appearances as well, recording a pair of singles and an RBI ground out. He has scored a run in 13 of the first 14 games.
Evan Albrecht delivered an RBI double to knock in the Boilermakers' final run in the sixth inning.
CJ Valdez leads the team with a .521 on-base percentage, reaching base safely twice more Sunday to extend his on-base streak to 10 consecutive games. He was hit by a pitch to load the bases in the first inning and came through with a leadoff single in the bottom of the fifth.
The Boilermakers racked up 12 strikeouts, registering a double-figure total for the 10th time in 14 games this season.
Purdue returns to action Tuesday when it hosts Dayton at 4 p.m. ET.
And the #Boilermakers are officially the final unbeaten team in the nation. #BoilerUp 🚂 https://t.co/5Cad5ph8QB
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) March 14, 2022