WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue baseball rallied back from a pair of two-run deficits to win in walk-off fashion for the sixth time this season, defeating Valparaiso 6-5 on a game-winning hit from Troy Viola in the 10th inning Tuesday at Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers (23-13) snapped a season-long five-game losing streak while improving to 4-2 in extra innings this season. Their six walk-off wins are the most in the nation this year.
CJ Valdez singled to open the bottom of the 10th, keeping his on-base streak alive at 32 consecutive games in his final at-bat of the night. His pinch runner, Jack Firestone, scored the game-winning run on Viola's well-hit ball into center field. Valparaiso (13-23) moved its left fielder to the infield after Purdue loaded the bases with no outs. Even with a full outfield, Viola hit the ball well enough into center that it would have been a sacrifice fly had the outfielders been in the traditional formation.
Firestone made an excellent read on a line drive off the bat of Cam Thompson that was snared by the third baseman for the first out. Head coach Greg Goff praised Firestone after the game for not being too amped up with the game on the line, avoiding getting doubled off at third base in the process.
The Beacons called for a squeeze bunt and catcher Pablo Lanzarote was able to help cut down the lead runner between third and home. Wansing (3-3) struck out the next batter and then worked around a two-out single and walk in the 10th.
Purdue overcame deficits of 2-0 and 5-3. Evan Albrecht delivered the key RBI with a two-out hit in both instances. The senior came through with a two-run single in the fifth inning to punctuate a three-run frame. Two innings later, Albrecht's RBI double tied the game after consecutive singles from Viola and Jake Jarvis set the stage.
Logan Danzeisen surrendered just one earned run over four innings in his longest outing as a Boilermaker. Ricky Castro retired eight of the first nine batters he faced before running into some trouble while facing the top of the Valpo lineup for the second time.
Purdue demonstrated its aggressive baserunning in two different innings, sequences that featured runners going first to third on balls that did not leave the infield. Mike Bolton Jr. beat the pitcher to the corner on a race to the third base bag on Curtis Washington Jr.'s RBI infield single in the fifth inning. With second base unoccupied, Washington was able to easily steal his Big Ten-leading 25th bag of the season in front of Albrecht's two-run single. Lanzarote later caught the Valpo infield off guard when he went first to third on Tanner Haston's sac bunt in the bottom of the ninth. That gave Purdue the winning run on third with only one out.
Viola joined Jake Stadler, Thompson (2), Albrecht and Valdez as Boilermakers with a walk-off hit this season.
Viola (17 consecutive games) also joined Thompson (36), Valdez (32) and Washington (24) as Purdue's players to extend their lengthy on-base streaks. Meanwhile, Jarvis' pinch-hit single in the bottom of the seventh extended his on-base streak at Alexander Field to nine consecutive games. Viola has hit safely in nine straight games at home.
The Boilermakers are back in action Friday when they open a three-game series vs. Michigan. First pitch at Alexander Field is set for 6 p.m. ET.
The Boilermakers (23-13) snapped a season-long five-game losing streak while improving to 4-2 in extra innings this season. Their six walk-off wins are the most in the nation this year.
CJ Valdez singled to open the bottom of the 10th, keeping his on-base streak alive at 32 consecutive games in his final at-bat of the night. His pinch runner, Jack Firestone, scored the game-winning run on Viola's well-hit ball into center field. Valparaiso (13-23) moved its left fielder to the infield after Purdue loaded the bases with no outs. Even with a full outfield, Viola hit the ball well enough into center that it would have been a sacrifice fly had the outfielders been in the traditional formation.
Firestone made an excellent read on a line drive off the bat of Cam Thompson that was snared by the third baseman for the first out. Head coach Greg Goff praised Firestone after the game for not being too amped up with the game on the line, avoiding getting doubled off at third base in the process.
In his first collegiate relief appearance, Troy Wansing gave the Boilermakers five important outs as the team's sixth and final pitcher of the night. He entered the game in the top of the ninth with two on, one out and the Valpo's lefthanded hitting cleanup man at the plate. Brady Renfroe had delivered a three-run double to give his team a 5-3 lead in his previous at-bat.After providing the 10th-inning heroics, @Troy_Viola08 discusses the importance of the walk-off win vs Valpo in a back & forth battle at Alexander. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/mWsiVPPvCo
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 27, 2022
The Beacons called for a squeeze bunt and catcher Pablo Lanzarote was able to help cut down the lead runner between third and home. Wansing (3-3) struck out the next batter and then worked around a two-out single and walk in the 10th.
Purdue overcame deficits of 2-0 and 5-3. Evan Albrecht delivered the key RBI with a two-out hit in both instances. The senior came through with a two-run single in the fifth inning to punctuate a three-run frame. Two innings later, Albrecht's RBI double tied the game after consecutive singles from Viola and Jake Jarvis set the stage.
Logan Danzeisen surrendered just one earned run over four innings in his longest outing as a Boilermaker. Ricky Castro retired eight of the first nine batters he faced before running into some trouble while facing the top of the Valpo lineup for the second time.
Purdue demonstrated its aggressive baserunning in two different innings, sequences that featured runners going first to third on balls that did not leave the infield. Mike Bolton Jr. beat the pitcher to the corner on a race to the third base bag on Curtis Washington Jr.'s RBI infield single in the fifth inning. With second base unoccupied, Washington was able to easily steal his Big Ten-leading 25th bag of the season in front of Albrecht's two-run single. Lanzarote later caught the Valpo infield off guard when he went first to third on Tanner Haston's sac bunt in the bottom of the ninth. That gave Purdue the winning run on third with only one out.
Viola joined Jake Stadler, Thompson (2), Albrecht and Valdez as Boilermakers with a walk-off hit this season.
Viola (17 consecutive games) also joined Thompson (36), Valdez (32) and Washington (24) as Purdue's players to extend their lengthy on-base streaks. Meanwhile, Jarvis' pinch-hit single in the bottom of the seventh extended his on-base streak at Alexander Field to nine consecutive games. Viola has hit safely in nine straight games at home.
The Boilermakers are back in action Friday when they open a three-game series vs. Michigan. First pitch at Alexander Field is set for 6 p.m. ET.
Good as Gold on a Big Sky day at Alexander
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 26, 2022
🟡 🔵 #BoilerUp x #LongLiveSpring 🟦 🟨 pic.twitter.com/t1IgR2HEeO