WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Belmont scored in four of the first five innings for the second day in a row, riding another early lead past Purdue baseball 8-6 Sunday at Alexander Field.
The Bruins (26-14) pounded out 31 hits over the final days of the series. Sunday's game featured a combined 32 hits, including a season-high 16 for the Boilermakers (22-13). But they also left a season-high 17 runners on base.
Purdue finally scored multiple runs in a frame with two tallies in the eighth, but even in that frame the Boilermakers hit into a run-scoring double play with the bases loaded and stranded runners on the corners. They also scored in the ninth while bring the go-ahead run to the plate against the BU closer.
Paul Toetz posted his first four-hit game as a Boilermaker. Evan Albrecht (3-for-5, HBP) also reached base safely four times, registering his team-leading ninth three-hit game of the season.
Purdue opened the second inning with three straight singles to get on the board and turned Toetz's leadoff double in the bottom of the fourth into a run but was unable to put together a big inning. Cam Thompson flew out to the warning track in center field with the bases loaded in the fourth.
Meanwhile, the visitors scored multiple runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to build an 8-2 lead.
Troy Viola scored from first base on Howe's double after extending his on-base streak to 16 consecutive games with a leadoff single to open the inning. CJ Valdez (31) and Thompson (35), Curtis Washington Jr. (23) also kept their long on-base streaks alive. Thompson and Valdez have still reached base safely in every game they've played this season. Valdez drew three walks to go along with a sixth-inning single. Washington extended his streak with a single in the ninth inning.
Khal Stephen retired eight of the nine batters he faced over 2 2/3 innings of one-hit relief, giving the bullpen another quality outing. The freshman has conceded just one run on four hits over 10 innings in his last five appearances dating back to April 10. Eric Hildebrand also worked two innings of one-hit relief, teaming up with Stephen to post four consecutive zeros to close the game.
Purdue's season-long seven-game homestand continues Tuesday with a 6 p.m. midweek game vs. Valparaiso.
The Bruins (26-14) pounded out 31 hits over the final days of the series. Sunday's game featured a combined 32 hits, including a season-high 16 for the Boilermakers (22-13). But they also left a season-high 17 runners on base.
Purdue finally scored multiple runs in a frame with two tallies in the eighth, but even in that frame the Boilermakers hit into a run-scoring double play with the bases loaded and stranded runners on the corners. They also scored in the ninth while bring the go-ahead run to the plate against the BU closer.
Paul Toetz posted his first four-hit game as a Boilermaker. Evan Albrecht (3-for-5, HBP) also reached base safely four times, registering his team-leading ninth three-hit game of the season.
Purdue opened the second inning with three straight singles to get on the board and turned Toetz's leadoff double in the bottom of the fourth into a run but was unable to put together a big inning. Cam Thompson flew out to the warning track in center field with the bases loaded in the fourth.
Meanwhile, the visitors scored multiple runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings to build an 8-2 lead.
Highlighted by Ryan Howe's RBI double, Purdue had three of its first four batters reach base safely in the seventh inning but stranded two more runners.#4faves from the first couple of innings of the @PurdueBaseball game this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/yDZ8beUEnh
— Dave Wegiel Photo (@pinolaphoto) April 24, 2022
Troy Viola scored from first base on Howe's double after extending his on-base streak to 16 consecutive games with a leadoff single to open the inning. CJ Valdez (31) and Thompson (35), Curtis Washington Jr. (23) also kept their long on-base streaks alive. Thompson and Valdez have still reached base safely in every game they've played this season. Valdez drew three walks to go along with a sixth-inning single. Washington extended his streak with a single in the ninth inning.
Khal Stephen retired eight of the nine batters he faced over 2 2/3 innings of one-hit relief, giving the bullpen another quality outing. The freshman has conceded just one run on four hits over 10 innings in his last five appearances dating back to April 10. Eric Hildebrand also worked two innings of one-hit relief, teaming up with Stephen to post four consecutive zeros to close the game.
Purdue's season-long seven-game homestand continues Tuesday with a 6 p.m. midweek game vs. Valparaiso.
Sunday scenes from Alexander. Thanks to @LexiEhle for bringing her 📸. #BoilerUp
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 24, 2022
B-3rd: Belmont 4, #Purdue 1
Live Stats: https://t.co/2CbQDkyVXx pic.twitter.com/fgiVetx7bx