CHARLOTTE – Purdue Baseball continued its best start in 113 years Wednesday, scoring runs early and late to earn a 6-2 road victory over Charlotte (March 2). The Boilermakers (9-0) scored runs in the first, eighth and ninth innings to remain unbeaten on the 2022 campaign.
The midweek matchup was Purdue's first of the season as well as the first true road game of 2022. However, the Boilermakers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead before adding three more runs over the final two innings and keeping the 49ers (4-4) off the scoreboard for the final seven frames. Keeping their perfect record intact, the Boilermakers continued the program's best start since 1909.
Evan Albrecht kept swinging a hot bat down in North Carolina, going 3-for-3 for his fourth 3-hit game of the road swing. Cam Thompson added a pair of hits and RBI, his fifth multi-RBI game of the young season, while Troy Viola and Curtis Washington Jr. increased their hitting streaks to seven games. Leadoff hitter Mike Bolton Jr. did his job, reaching base four times throughout the night.
On the mound, the Boilermaker bullpen tossed seven scoreless innings as head coach Greg Goff used six relievers throughout the contest.
Purdue wasted no time and jumped on the Niners in the first. Bolton caught the home team napping with a perfect bunt single before stealing second to get into scoring position. The Boilermakers loaded the bases for Thompson, who knocked in a pair of his teammates to put Purdue on the board. After a Viola double, Charlotte went to the bullpen with Purdue holding a 3-0 advantage.
The Niners scored a run in each of the first two innings off Purdue starter Wyatt Wendell (2-0), but Landon Weins tossed a pair of scoreless frames to keep the Boilermakers in front. In the bottom of the fifth, Charlotte threatened by getting two runners on base. However, Nolan Daniel came out of the bullpen and shut the door to hold a 3-2 lead.
Two innings later, the Niners once again looked poised to erase the Purdue cushion. Charlotte put runners on the corners with one out before Griffin Lohman got out of the jam. The righty struck out David McCabe, who entered the game with a .417 batting average. Then, Lohman had to face Cam Fisher, the Niners' leader in RBI, home runs and doubles. Despite falling behind in the count, Lohman battled back and forced a foul out to Thompson. The Purdue first baseman secured the catch as he crashed into the foul ground fence, and the one-run lead remained in place.
Purdue added an insurance run in the eighth. Washington Jr. led off the inning with a double down the right field line to extend his hitting streak. Two batters later, the center fielder motored around third and crossed the plate on a CJ Valdez single to left field.
Leading off the ninth, Jake Jarvis stepped up to the dish as a pinch-hitter and sent a bomb over the scoreboard in right-center field for his first home run as Boilermaker. After Albrecht doubled for his third hit of the night, Tyler Powers brought him home to make it 6-2 in favor of Purdue. Khal Stephen (1) threw one pitch to get his first career save, and Purdue remained unbeaten with a true road win.
The Boilermakers remain in North Carolina this weekend, returning to Holly Springs to face Longwood for a three-game set (March 4-6). The series begins Friday, March 4 at 3 p.m. ET from Ting Stadium. Admission for the entire weekend series is free.
The midweek matchup was Purdue's first of the season as well as the first true road game of 2022. However, the Boilermakers jumped out to an early 3-0 lead before adding three more runs over the final two innings and keeping the 49ers (4-4) off the scoreboard for the final seven frames. Keeping their perfect record intact, the Boilermakers continued the program's best start since 1909.
Evan Albrecht kept swinging a hot bat down in North Carolina, going 3-for-3 for his fourth 3-hit game of the road swing. Cam Thompson added a pair of hits and RBI, his fifth multi-RBI game of the young season, while Troy Viola and Curtis Washington Jr. increased their hitting streaks to seven games. Leadoff hitter Mike Bolton Jr. did his job, reaching base four times throughout the night.
On the mound, the Boilermaker bullpen tossed seven scoreless innings as head coach Greg Goff used six relievers throughout the contest.
Purdue wasted no time and jumped on the Niners in the first. Bolton caught the home team napping with a perfect bunt single before stealing second to get into scoring position. The Boilermakers loaded the bases for Thompson, who knocked in a pair of his teammates to put Purdue on the board. After a Viola double, Charlotte went to the bullpen with Purdue holding a 3-0 advantage.
The Niners scored a run in each of the first two innings off Purdue starter Wyatt Wendell (2-0), but Landon Weins tossed a pair of scoreless frames to keep the Boilermakers in front. In the bottom of the fifth, Charlotte threatened by getting two runners on base. However, Nolan Daniel came out of the bullpen and shut the door to hold a 3-2 lead.
Two innings later, the Niners once again looked poised to erase the Purdue cushion. Charlotte put runners on the corners with one out before Griffin Lohman got out of the jam. The righty struck out David McCabe, who entered the game with a .417 batting average. Then, Lohman had to face Cam Fisher, the Niners' leader in RBI, home runs and doubles. Despite falling behind in the count, Lohman battled back and forced a foul out to Thompson. The Purdue first baseman secured the catch as he crashed into the foul ground fence, and the one-run lead remained in place.
Purdue added an insurance run in the eighth. Washington Jr. led off the inning with a double down the right field line to extend his hitting streak. Two batters later, the center fielder motored around third and crossed the plate on a CJ Valdez single to left field.
Leading off the ninth, Jake Jarvis stepped up to the dish as a pinch-hitter and sent a bomb over the scoreboard in right-center field for his first home run as Boilermaker. After Albrecht doubled for his third hit of the night, Tyler Powers brought him home to make it 6-2 in favor of Purdue. Khal Stephen (1) threw one pitch to get his first career save, and Purdue remained unbeaten with a true road win.
The Boilermakers remain in North Carolina this weekend, returning to Holly Springs to face Longwood for a three-game set (March 4-6). The series begins Friday, March 4 at 3 p.m. ET from Ting Stadium. Admission for the entire weekend series is free.