HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. – Evan Albrecht connected for a three-run double as part of his first career four-RBI game and Jonathan Blackwell struck out eight over five innings to lead the way on a 13-K night, leading Purdue baseball to a 7-4 victory vs. NJIT on Saturday at Ting Stadium.
Couper Cornblum and Albrecht both had four productive plate appearances as part of their three-hit games. It was Cornblum's second three-hit game of the series. Albrecht and Cornblum teamed up for the go-ahead run in the sixth inning to break a 3-3 tie.
Blackwell struck out eight of 21 batters faced, a career-high total and the most Ks by a Boilermaker this season. Jackson Danelley fanned four over 3 1/3 innings of one-hit relief. Aaron Suval retired both batters he faced to close out the victory and earn his first save as a Boilermaker.
After NJIT (3-3) loaded the bases with one out in the ninth inning to bring the tying run to the plate, Suval retired the No. 1 and 2 batters – Albert Choi and Ray Ortiz – after that duo had gone a combined 9-for-14 with four extra-base hits in Friday's doubleheader. Choi and Ortiz had tripled and homered, respectively, earlier in the game.
With two outs and the bases loaded in the seventh inning, Albrecht connected for a double over the left fielder's head to clear the bases. He also singled home the game's first run in the second inning.
Paul Toetz and Albrecht alertly took third base when the opportunity presented itself and both times it led to a run. Toetz stole third with two outs in the fifth inning. That allowed him to score on Jo Stevens' infield single moments later. After drawing a leadoff walk to open the bottom of the sixth, Albrecht was at second base with Cornblum at the plate. Albrecht scampered into third on a pitch in the dirt. Cornblum hit the ball into left field for the go-ahead sac fly moments later.
Purdue took the lead in the sixth inning without the luxury of a hit. With his good base running and big hit late in the game, Albrecht atoned for a dropped pop up in the top of the sixth that allowed the tying run to score.
Stevens made the top defensive play of the game, a diving stop at third base for the first out of the sixth inning. Stevens robbed Cole Fleming of a double that would have either plated the runner from first base or given the Highlanders runners on second and third with no outs.
Jake Jarvis' opposite-field RBI single in the fifth inning was the only ball Purdue (5-2) hit out of the infield while scoring twice in the frame.
Blackwell did not surrender a hit until a leadoff single in the fourth inning. He retired eight consecutive batters after issuing a leadoff to Choi to begin the game. The lefty surrendered two earned runs on four hits over five-plus innings. Danelley worked around Choi's two-out triple in the seventh and followed that up with a 1-2-3 inning vs. NJIT's 3-4-5 hitters the following frame.
The series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
Couper Cornblum and Albrecht both had four productive plate appearances as part of their three-hit games. It was Cornblum's second three-hit game of the series. Albrecht and Cornblum teamed up for the go-ahead run in the sixth inning to break a 3-3 tie.
Blackwell struck out eight of 21 batters faced, a career-high total and the most Ks by a Boilermaker this season. Jackson Danelley fanned four over 3 1/3 innings of one-hit relief. Aaron Suval retired both batters he faced to close out the victory and earn his first save as a Boilermaker.
After NJIT (3-3) loaded the bases with one out in the ninth inning to bring the tying run to the plate, Suval retired the No. 1 and 2 batters – Albert Choi and Ray Ortiz – after that duo had gone a combined 9-for-14 with four extra-base hits in Friday's doubleheader. Choi and Ortiz had tripled and homered, respectively, earlier in the game.
With two outs and the bases loaded in the seventh inning, Albrecht connected for a double over the left fielder's head to clear the bases. He also singled home the game's first run in the second inning.
Paul Toetz and Albrecht alertly took third base when the opportunity presented itself and both times it led to a run. Toetz stole third with two outs in the fifth inning. That allowed him to score on Jo Stevens' infield single moments later. After drawing a leadoff walk to open the bottom of the sixth, Albrecht was at second base with Cornblum at the plate. Albrecht scampered into third on a pitch in the dirt. Cornblum hit the ball into left field for the go-ahead sac fly moments later.
Purdue took the lead in the sixth inning without the luxury of a hit. With his good base running and big hit late in the game, Albrecht atoned for a dropped pop up in the top of the sixth that allowed the tying run to score.
Stevens made the top defensive play of the game, a diving stop at third base for the first out of the sixth inning. Stevens robbed Cole Fleming of a double that would have either plated the runner from first base or given the Highlanders runners on second and third with no outs.
Jake Jarvis' opposite-field RBI single in the fifth inning was the only ball Purdue (5-2) hit out of the infield while scoring twice in the frame.
Blackwell did not surrender a hit until a leadoff single in the fourth inning. He retired eight consecutive batters after issuing a leadoff to Choi to begin the game. The lefty surrendered two earned runs on four hits over five-plus innings. Danelley worked around Choi's two-out triple in the seventh and followed that up with a 1-2-3 inning vs. NJIT's 3-4-5 hitters the following frame.
The series concludes Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.