CHICAGO – CJ Valdez connected for his first two home runs as a Boilermaker as part of a five-RBI night, but UIC scored three times with two outs in the eighth inning to defeat Purdue baseball 9-6 Tuesday in a midweek rematch.
Paul Toetz delivered a two-out RBI double off the third base bag in the top of the eighth to bring the Boilermakers (22-10) even at 6-6 after the home team had led since a four-run first inning. But Rayth Petersen delivered the go-ahead RBI with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the frame after Purdue had intentionally walked UIC's leading hitter, Bryan Rosario.
Valdez and Petersen both enjoyed big nights batting in the 3-hole of their lineups. Valdez drove in five of the Boilermakers' six runs, adding an RBI single to his three-run homer in the first inning and solo shot in the sixth. He became the first Purdue player with a multi-homer game this season and just the second since the start of the 2019 campaign. Valdez also joined Jake Jarvis as Boilermakers with a five-RBI game this year.
Petersen finished the night 4-for-5 with four RBI. He singled in runs in the second, fourth and eighth innings.
CJ Backer worked 5 1/3 innings of two-hit relief, surrendering just one run to help Purdue overcome deficits of 5-3 and 6-4. Backer struck out six, including the side in the sixth inning. In eight innings of one-run relief over two appearances against the Flames (12-17) this season, Backer racked up 11 punchouts.
Valdez's three-run homer in his first at-bat gave the Boilermakers a multi-run first inning for the seventh time in the last eight games. But Purdue also surrendered three-plus runs in a frame (any inning) for the 19th and 20th times in the last 13 games dating back to the first meeting with UIC on March 29. The Boilermakers are 4-9 during that stretch. The Flames outscored Purdue 13-1 after the sixth inning in the two games this year.
Six Boilermakers extended their lengthy on-base streaks…
• Cam Thompson – 32 games
• CJ Valdez – 29 games
• Evan Albrecht – 24 games
• Curtis Washington Jr. – 20 games
• Troy Viola – 13 games
• Paul Toetz – 11 games
With Washington reaching 20 games, Purdue has had five different players post an on-base streak of at least 20 consecutive contests. That's a program first over the last 20 years. Washington also made two fine catching while demonstrating his impressive range in center field.
Thompson was hit by a pitch in his final plate appearance, his Big Ten-leading 18th HBP, to keep his streak alive. Albrecht followed with a base hit to extend his streak. Thompson scored the tying run in the top of the eighth when the grounder off the bat of Toetz hit the bag and ricocheted down the left field line.
Consecutive one-out walks set the stage for UIC's rally in the bottom half of the eighth. Nolan Daniel got the call from the bullpen to face the top of the Flames' lineup with runners on second and third. He retired Ryan Lin-Peistrup on a foul pop up but could not get Petersen for the final out of the frame.
Mike Bolton Jr. (2) and Washington teamed for three stolen bases in the first inning to give both speedsters a league-leading 22 steals for the season.
The Boilermakers are back in action Wednesday when they host Evansville at 6 p.m. ET in the opener of a season-long eight-game homestand.
Paul Toetz delivered a two-out RBI double off the third base bag in the top of the eighth to bring the Boilermakers (22-10) even at 6-6 after the home team had led since a four-run first inning. But Rayth Petersen delivered the go-ahead RBI with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the frame after Purdue had intentionally walked UIC's leading hitter, Bryan Rosario.
Valdez and Petersen both enjoyed big nights batting in the 3-hole of their lineups. Valdez drove in five of the Boilermakers' six runs, adding an RBI single to his three-run homer in the first inning and solo shot in the sixth. He became the first Purdue player with a multi-homer game this season and just the second since the start of the 2019 campaign. Valdez also joined Jake Jarvis as Boilermakers with a five-RBI game this year.
Petersen finished the night 4-for-5 with four RBI. He singled in runs in the second, fourth and eighth innings.
CJ Backer worked 5 1/3 innings of two-hit relief, surrendering just one run to help Purdue overcome deficits of 5-3 and 6-4. Backer struck out six, including the side in the sixth inning. In eight innings of one-run relief over two appearances against the Flames (12-17) this season, Backer racked up 11 punchouts.
Valdez's three-run homer in his first at-bat gave the Boilermakers a multi-run first inning for the seventh time in the last eight games. But Purdue also surrendered three-plus runs in a frame (any inning) for the 19th and 20th times in the last 13 games dating back to the first meeting with UIC on March 29. The Boilermakers are 4-9 during that stretch. The Flames outscored Purdue 13-1 after the sixth inning in the two games this year.
Six Boilermakers extended their lengthy on-base streaks…
• Cam Thompson – 32 games
• CJ Valdez – 29 games
• Evan Albrecht – 24 games
• Curtis Washington Jr. – 20 games
• Troy Viola – 13 games
• Paul Toetz – 11 games
With Washington reaching 20 games, Purdue has had five different players post an on-base streak of at least 20 consecutive contests. That's a program first over the last 20 years. Washington also made two fine catching while demonstrating his impressive range in center field.
Thompson was hit by a pitch in his final plate appearance, his Big Ten-leading 18th HBP, to keep his streak alive. Albrecht followed with a base hit to extend his streak. Thompson scored the tying run in the top of the eighth when the grounder off the bat of Toetz hit the bag and ricocheted down the left field line.
Consecutive one-out walks set the stage for UIC's rally in the bottom half of the eighth. Nolan Daniel got the call from the bullpen to face the top of the Flames' lineup with runners on second and third. He retired Ryan Lin-Peistrup on a foul pop up but could not get Petersen for the final out of the frame.
Mike Bolton Jr. (2) and Washington teamed for three stolen bases in the first inning to give both speedsters a league-leading 22 steals for the season.
The Boilermakers are back in action Wednesday when they host Evansville at 6 p.m. ET in the opener of a season-long eight-game homestand.