WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Connor Caskenette's two-run homer capped a quick-strike stretch in the third inning during which Purdue baseball scored four times in the span of four batters, riding the big inning to a 6-3 series-clinching win vs. Rutgers on Saturday at Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers (21-21, 10-7 B1G) clinched their fourth series victory in the five weekends this month.
Jonathan Blackwell and Aaron Suval teamed up to limit the Scarlet Knights (25-18, 7-7 B1G) to eight hits as Purdue used just two pitchers in a win for the second day in a row. Suval retired 10 of the 12 batters he faced in an 11-out save, striking out three and inducing a 6-4-3 double play in his finest outing of the season.
Blackwell (5-3) worked 5 1/3 innings of three-run ball, issuing just one walk while giving the Boilermakers at least five innings for the 10th time in his 11 starts. Purdue pitching has surrendered only four runs on 13 hits (10 singles) over the first 18 innings of the series.
Mike Bolton Jr. singled four times and drew a walk, improving his team-leading on-base percentage to .457. It was the senior's first career four-hit game. He also had two stolen bases, increasing his Big Ten-leading total to 27, one shy of his career high.
Bolton was the second of two runners to score on Couper Cornblum's RBI single in the third inning, during which Cornblum ended up on third base. Rutgers failed to throw out Cornblum at second base while advancing on the initial throw home from center field. Bolton was able to scamper home when the RU catcher tried to cut down Cornblum at second. Caskenette went deep to left field three pitches later, on a 0-2 count, chasing starter Grant Besser.
Jake Parr also hit his fourth home run of the season, an opposite-field blast to right to lead off the second inning.
STREAKS EXTENDED SATURDAY
• Connor Caskenette (2-Run HR) – 20-game on-base streak; 13-game hit streak; 12-game hit streak at Alexander
• Jake Parr (2-for-3, HR, BB) – 16-game on-base streak; 12-game hit streak in Big Ten play; 10-game on-base streak at Alexander; scored a run for the 10th straight game
• Paul Toetz (1-for-4) – 14-game on-base streak; 10-game on-base streak at Alexander
• Couper Cornblum (1-for-5, RBI, R) – 9-game hit streak
Since recording two saves in Purdue's April 15th doubleheader sweep of Penn State, Suval had pitched just two-thirds of an inning over the last eight games. He had been limited by an ankle injury suffered before the April 19 win at Alexander Field. The righthander reemerged Saturday as a big weapon in the bullpen. He struck out the first two batters he faced after taking over Blackwell in the sixth inning and went on to earn his fifth save of the season.
Toetz was a big part of both double plays turned by the Boilermakers Saturday. He was in perfect position to turn a chopper over the mound into an inning-ending 4-3 twin killing with runners on the corners in the fifth inning. He navigated a take-out slide to complete the 6-4-3 double play induced by Suval in the top of the seventh. Both twin killings came off the bat of the Rutgers cleanup hitter.
Evan Albrecht was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. His leadoff walk in the bottom of the third ignited the four-run rally.
Sunday's series finale is slated for a noon ET first pitch. Purdue has an opportunity to sweep a three-game series at home for the first time since May 2018 vs. Michigan.
The Boilermakers (21-21, 10-7 B1G) clinched their fourth series victory in the five weekends this month.
Jonathan Blackwell and Aaron Suval teamed up to limit the Scarlet Knights (25-18, 7-7 B1G) to eight hits as Purdue used just two pitchers in a win for the second day in a row. Suval retired 10 of the 12 batters he faced in an 11-out save, striking out three and inducing a 6-4-3 double play in his finest outing of the season.
Blackwell (5-3) worked 5 1/3 innings of three-run ball, issuing just one walk while giving the Boilermakers at least five innings for the 10th time in his 11 starts. Purdue pitching has surrendered only four runs on 13 hits (10 singles) over the first 18 innings of the series.
Mike Bolton Jr. singled four times and drew a walk, improving his team-leading on-base percentage to .457. It was the senior's first career four-hit game. He also had two stolen bases, increasing his Big Ten-leading total to 27, one shy of his career high.
Bolton was the second of two runners to score on Couper Cornblum's RBI single in the third inning, during which Cornblum ended up on third base. Rutgers failed to throw out Cornblum at second base while advancing on the initial throw home from center field. Bolton was able to scamper home when the RU catcher tried to cut down Cornblum at second. Caskenette went deep to left field three pitches later, on a 0-2 count, chasing starter Grant Besser.
Jake Parr also hit his fourth home run of the season, an opposite-field blast to right to lead off the second inning.
STREAKS EXTENDED SATURDAY
• Connor Caskenette (2-Run HR) – 20-game on-base streak; 13-game hit streak; 12-game hit streak at Alexander
• Jake Parr (2-for-3, HR, BB) – 16-game on-base streak; 12-game hit streak in Big Ten play; 10-game on-base streak at Alexander; scored a run for the 10th straight game
• Paul Toetz (1-for-4) – 14-game on-base streak; 10-game on-base streak at Alexander
• Couper Cornblum (1-for-5, RBI, R) – 9-game hit streak
Since recording two saves in Purdue's April 15th doubleheader sweep of Penn State, Suval had pitched just two-thirds of an inning over the last eight games. He had been limited by an ankle injury suffered before the April 19 win at Alexander Field. The righthander reemerged Saturday as a big weapon in the bullpen. He struck out the first two batters he faced after taking over Blackwell in the sixth inning and went on to earn his fifth save of the season.
Toetz was a big part of both double plays turned by the Boilermakers Saturday. He was in perfect position to turn a chopper over the mound into an inning-ending 4-3 twin killing with runners on the corners in the fifth inning. He navigated a take-out slide to complete the 6-4-3 double play induced by Suval in the top of the seventh. Both twin killings came off the bat of the Rutgers cleanup hitter.
Evan Albrecht was 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. His leadoff walk in the bottom of the third ignited the four-run rally.
Sunday's series finale is slated for a noon ET first pitch. Purdue has an opportunity to sweep a three-game series at home for the first time since May 2018 vs. Michigan.
Welcome home @PurdueBaseball Alumni! Excited to see so many guys back supporting the program. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/vJGY8D9zCT
— John Purdue Club 🚂 (@JohnPurdueClub) April 29, 2023