HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. – It took 13 innings, but the 2022 Purdue baseball team accomplished something no other team in program history has done. The Boilermakers (11-0) won their 11th consecutive game to start a season, as Jake Stadler's walk-off hit in the bottom of the 13th completed a 6-5 comeback victory over Longwood.
Purdue remained unbeaten, eclipsing the 10-0 start by the 1909 team for the best start by a Boilermaker ballclub ever. It did not come easy either, as the 13-inning contest was Purdue's longest game since 2018.
Troy Viola went 4-for-5 with two RBI to lead Purdue, blasting his second home run of the season to start the comeback. Pablo Lanzarote went back-to-back with Viola, hitting his first homer as a Boilermaker. Coming off the bench, Stadler provided two hits at the dish, including the game-winner in the 13th.
The Lancers (3-8) outhit Purdue on the afternoon, compiling 14 hits compared to the Boilermakers' dozen. However, they struggled at times to get runs across the plate, leaving 18 men on base throughout the contest.
In the situation the Boilermakers weren't used to on this trip, they found themselves down early as Longwood scored runs in the first two innings. The Lancers added another run in the top of the fifth to hold a 3-0 advantage.
The three-run cushion did not last long, as Purdue broke out the bats in the bottom of the fifth. Jake Parr led off the inning with a double to the left-center gap before Viola brought him home on a two-run blast to left field, slicing the deficit to a single run. With one swing of the bat, Lanzarote belted a deep fly that cleared the center field wall, making it back-to-back homers for the Boilermakers and tying the contest at 3-3.
Purdue's pitchers kept the game tied by getting out of jams and leaving Lancers on base, setting the stage for the eighth. CJ Valdez walked to begin the inning, and head coach Greg Goff went to his bench. Tanner Haston pinch ran for the designated hitter, immediately advancing into scoring position on a wild pitch. With two outs, Cam Thompson ripped a single to center, bringing Haston home to give the Boilermakers their first lead of the game.
Longwood stayed alive with a run in the ninth to force extra innings. In the 12th, the Lancers scored a run to take the lead. However, Purdue battled back to keep the game going. A double by Stadler gave the Boilermakers life, as a walk and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with two outs. Tyler Powers took one for the team as well, and with all bases occupied, Stadler walked across the dish to knot things at 5-5 and push the game to the 13th.
After Ricky Castro (1-0) retired the side, Jarvis smacked a 1-out single before stealing second to get into scoring position. Viola followed with a single of his own, his fourth hit of the game. With the Longwood outfield playing in, Stadler nearly left the yard in right field, but his deep fly to the warning track was enough to plate Jarvis and end the marathon in favor of the Old Gold and Black.
Closing out the trip to North Carolina, the Boilermakers will play their eighth game in 10 days. The series finale between Purdue and Longwood begins at noon on Sunday (March 6), with first pitch moved up one hour from its original start time.
Purdue remained unbeaten, eclipsing the 10-0 start by the 1909 team for the best start by a Boilermaker ballclub ever. It did not come easy either, as the 13-inning contest was Purdue's longest game since 2018.
Troy Viola went 4-for-5 with two RBI to lead Purdue, blasting his second home run of the season to start the comeback. Pablo Lanzarote went back-to-back with Viola, hitting his first homer as a Boilermaker. Coming off the bench, Stadler provided two hits at the dish, including the game-winner in the 13th.
The Lancers (3-8) outhit Purdue on the afternoon, compiling 14 hits compared to the Boilermakers' dozen. However, they struggled at times to get runs across the plate, leaving 18 men on base throughout the contest.
In the situation the Boilermakers weren't used to on this trip, they found themselves down early as Longwood scored runs in the first two innings. The Lancers added another run in the top of the fifth to hold a 3-0 advantage.
The three-run cushion did not last long, as Purdue broke out the bats in the bottom of the fifth. Jake Parr led off the inning with a double to the left-center gap before Viola brought him home on a two-run blast to left field, slicing the deficit to a single run. With one swing of the bat, Lanzarote belted a deep fly that cleared the center field wall, making it back-to-back homers for the Boilermakers and tying the contest at 3-3.
Purdue's pitchers kept the game tied by getting out of jams and leaving Lancers on base, setting the stage for the eighth. CJ Valdez walked to begin the inning, and head coach Greg Goff went to his bench. Tanner Haston pinch ran for the designated hitter, immediately advancing into scoring position on a wild pitch. With two outs, Cam Thompson ripped a single to center, bringing Haston home to give the Boilermakers their first lead of the game.
Longwood stayed alive with a run in the ninth to force extra innings. In the 12th, the Lancers scored a run to take the lead. However, Purdue battled back to keep the game going. A double by Stadler gave the Boilermakers life, as a walk and a hit by pitch loaded the bases with two outs. Tyler Powers took one for the team as well, and with all bases occupied, Stadler walked across the dish to knot things at 5-5 and push the game to the 13th.
After Ricky Castro (1-0) retired the side, Jarvis smacked a 1-out single before stealing second to get into scoring position. Viola followed with a single of his own, his fourth hit of the game. With the Longwood outfield playing in, Stadler nearly left the yard in right field, but his deep fly to the warning track was enough to plate Jarvis and end the marathon in favor of the Old Gold and Black.
Closing out the trip to North Carolina, the Boilermakers will play their eighth game in 10 days. The series finale between Purdue and Longwood begins at noon on Sunday (March 6), with first pitch moved up one hour from its original start time.