WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Khal Stephen induced 12 ground ball outs over 7 1/3 innings of one-run ball and Jo Stevens connected for a run-scoring extra-base hit in each of his first two at-bats, powering Purdue baseball to a 6-1 victory vs. Rutgers on Friday at Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers (20-21, 9-7 B1G) improved to 5-1 on Fridays in Big Ten play, with Stephen starting on the mound all six weeks. The sophomore has compiled a 3.32 ERA and .207 batting average against in conference play, solidifying his role as the ace of the pitching staff.
This week, Stephen (6-2) capitalized on the Scarlet Knights' contact-heavy approach. He didn't record his first strikeout until the final out of the sixth inning. But in the meantime, his command of the bottom half of the strike zone led to Rutgers (25-17, 7-6 B1G) hitting ground ball after ground ball into the all-natural surface at Alexander. All 12 ground ball outs for Stephen came over the first six innings as he faced just 18 batters through five frames.
Stephen finished strong, striking out three of four across the sixth and seventh innings. He finally gave way to Jackson Dannelley with one out in the eighth inning. Dannelley proceeded to induce an inning-ending 5-3 double play ball off the bat of Big Ten preseason player of the year Ryan Lasko, who had accounted for two of the four hits against Stephen. Dannelley's five-out save was his third save in Purdue's last seven games dating back to April 18.
Stephen and Dannelley teamed up to hold Rutgers to five singles, ending the visitors' six-game win streak.
The Boilermakers only had six hits Friday, but three of them went for extra bases. And they capitalized on seven free passes (4 walks, 3 HBP) plus a pair of errors on the same ball in play, which led to an insurance run in the seventh inning.
Stevens has an RBI in four consecutive Big Ten games. Jake Parr scored on the Aussie's RBI double to the wall in left center in the bottom of the third. Parr scored from first again when Stevens barreled up for a two-run triple over the right fielder's head with two outs in the fourth inning.
In both the sixth and seventh innings, Purdue managed to score after the Scarlet Knights retired the first two batters of the inning. As a pinch hitter, Camden Melvin drew a four-pitch, bases-loaded walk after Rutgers went to the bullpen for a sidearmer in the bottom of the sixth. Connor Caskenette connected for a two-out RBI double the following frame.
STREAKS EXTENDED FRIDAY
• Connor Caskenette (RBI Double, Walk) – 19-game on-base streak; 12-game hit streak; 11-game hit streak at Alexander
• Jake Parr (RBI Single, 2 HBP) – 15-game on-base streak; 11-game hit streak in Big Ten play; 9-game on-base streak at Alexander; scored a run for the 9th straight game
• Paul Toetz (HBP, Walk, 2 Runs) – 13-game on-base streak; 9-game on-base streak at Alexander
• Couper Cornblum – 8-game hit streak
Shortstop Lukas Cook made the top defensive play of the day, throwing out RU's catcher after a diving stop deep in the hole on the left side for the second out of the fifth inning. The visitors' lone run of the game scored on the play but the web gem prevented RU from having runners on the corners with one out in a 4-1 game.
As was the case in last Friday's win at Maryland, the bottom half of the lineup powered Purdue to victory. The five through eight portion of the lineup – Caskenette, Toetz, Parr and Stevens – was a combined 4-for-10 with three walks, three HBP, four runs and four RBI.
Game 2 of the series is slated for Saturday at 5 p.m. live on the Big Ten Network.
The Boilermakers (20-21, 9-7 B1G) improved to 5-1 on Fridays in Big Ten play, with Stephen starting on the mound all six weeks. The sophomore has compiled a 3.32 ERA and .207 batting average against in conference play, solidifying his role as the ace of the pitching staff.
This week, Stephen (6-2) capitalized on the Scarlet Knights' contact-heavy approach. He didn't record his first strikeout until the final out of the sixth inning. But in the meantime, his command of the bottom half of the strike zone led to Rutgers (25-17, 7-6 B1G) hitting ground ball after ground ball into the all-natural surface at Alexander. All 12 ground ball outs for Stephen came over the first six innings as he faced just 18 batters through five frames.
Stephen finished strong, striking out three of four across the sixth and seventh innings. He finally gave way to Jackson Dannelley with one out in the eighth inning. Dannelley proceeded to induce an inning-ending 5-3 double play ball off the bat of Big Ten preseason player of the year Ryan Lasko, who had accounted for two of the four hits against Stephen. Dannelley's five-out save was his third save in Purdue's last seven games dating back to April 18.
Stephen and Dannelley teamed up to hold Rutgers to five singles, ending the visitors' six-game win streak.
The Boilermakers only had six hits Friday, but three of them went for extra bases. And they capitalized on seven free passes (4 walks, 3 HBP) plus a pair of errors on the same ball in play, which led to an insurance run in the seventh inning.
Stevens has an RBI in four consecutive Big Ten games. Jake Parr scored on the Aussie's RBI double to the wall in left center in the bottom of the third. Parr scored from first again when Stevens barreled up for a two-run triple over the right fielder's head with two outs in the fourth inning.
In both the sixth and seventh innings, Purdue managed to score after the Scarlet Knights retired the first two batters of the inning. As a pinch hitter, Camden Melvin drew a four-pitch, bases-loaded walk after Rutgers went to the bullpen for a sidearmer in the bottom of the sixth. Connor Caskenette connected for a two-out RBI double the following frame.
STREAKS EXTENDED FRIDAY
• Connor Caskenette (RBI Double, Walk) – 19-game on-base streak; 12-game hit streak; 11-game hit streak at Alexander
• Jake Parr (RBI Single, 2 HBP) – 15-game on-base streak; 11-game hit streak in Big Ten play; 9-game on-base streak at Alexander; scored a run for the 9th straight game
• Paul Toetz (HBP, Walk, 2 Runs) – 13-game on-base streak; 9-game on-base streak at Alexander
• Couper Cornblum – 8-game hit streak
Jake Jarvis scored from second base on Parr's two-out infield hit in the fourth inning. Shortstop Josh Kuroda-Grauer made an impressive diving stop but gave the Boilermakers the opportunity to score when he tried to throw out Parr at first instead of pocketing the ball. Stevens connected for the two-run triple moments later.Proud of you Bolt!! #BoilerUp 7⃣1⃣ pic.twitter.com/a9hezC7ehh
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 28, 2023
Shortstop Lukas Cook made the top defensive play of the day, throwing out RU's catcher after a diving stop deep in the hole on the left side for the second out of the fifth inning. The visitors' lone run of the game scored on the play but the web gem prevented RU from having runners on the corners with one out in a 4-1 game.
As was the case in last Friday's win at Maryland, the bottom half of the lineup powered Purdue to victory. The five through eight portion of the lineup – Caskenette, Toetz, Parr and Stevens – was a combined 4-for-10 with three walks, three HBP, four runs and four RBI.
Game 2 of the series is slated for Saturday at 5 p.m. live on the Big Ten Network.
It was our honor to host the Family & @IndianaNitro Teammates of the late Terry Badger III for Friday's ceremonial 1st pitch & game.
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 28, 2023
Terry was an amazing young ballplayer from Covington. His Family & Friends are in our thoughts.@IndyStarSports Feature: https://t.co/DlRLRhqsn6 pic.twitter.com/WNAOJsClKR