WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Connor Caskenette hit a three-run homer to cap an eight-run rally in the second inning but Evansville outscored Purdue baseball 10-2 the rest of the way to take the midweek slugfest 12-10 Tuesday at Alexander Field.
Lukas Cook connected for another dramatic long home run to left field, blasting a 414-foot long ball over the bullpen to tie the game at 10-10 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. It was a near carbon copy of the walk-off home run he hit in the 10th inning Sunday vs. Northwestern.
The game featured a combined five home runs, 10 extra-base hits and 22 runs on 25 hits. The Purple Aces (17-11) scored the go-ahead run on a one-out double from Chase Hug in the eighth inning after a leadoff walk to the 9-hole hitter. Hug reached base safely in four of his five plate appearances to improve his on-base percentage to .541.
Purdue (12-15) sent 11 men to the plate in the second inning, scoring eight-plus runs in a frame for the fourth time this season. However, the Boilermakers lost for just the second time since the start of the 2021 season when enjoying a five-plus run inning in a game.
Couper Cornblum delivered a two-run single and Paul Toetz ripped a two-run double down the left field line before Caskenette hit his three-run shot down the left field line for his first career home run at Alexander Field.
A two-out, two-run double from Evan Waggoner in the third inning and two-out, two-run homer from Ty Rumsey in the seventh inning were the big hits in Evansville's comeback. The Aces tied the game at 8-8 on Brent Widder's RBI single in the top of the seventh. Rumsey went deep into the right field bullpen two batters later.
Both teams used six pitchers. Evansville's bullpen managed to post six zeros. After giving up the home run to Caskenette, Michael Parks induced 10 consecutive ground ball outs while retiring the final 11 batters he faced. Purdue had six consecutive hits in the second inning but only four the rest of the game.
Carter Doorn and Jackson Dannelley teamed up for the Boilermakers' best stretch on the mound, retiring 10 of 12 batters faced while posting three consecutive zeros over the middle innings. Doorn struck out three in a row and Dannelley retired the first five batters he faced before the top of the UE lineup ignited a rally in the top of the seventh.
Jo Stevens ignited the second-inning rally with a one-out single, extending his on-base streak to 10 consecutive games. He's now had separate hit and on-base streaks of at least 10 games this season.
The Boilermakers are back in action Friday when they open a three-game series at Minnesota. First pitch in Minneapolis is slated for 6 p.m. ET.
Lukas Cook connected for another dramatic long home run to left field, blasting a 414-foot long ball over the bullpen to tie the game at 10-10 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. It was a near carbon copy of the walk-off home run he hit in the 10th inning Sunday vs. Northwestern.
The game featured a combined five home runs, 10 extra-base hits and 22 runs on 25 hits. The Purple Aces (17-11) scored the go-ahead run on a one-out double from Chase Hug in the eighth inning after a leadoff walk to the 9-hole hitter. Hug reached base safely in four of his five plate appearances to improve his on-base percentage to .541.
Purdue (12-15) sent 11 men to the plate in the second inning, scoring eight-plus runs in a frame for the fourth time this season. However, the Boilermakers lost for just the second time since the start of the 2021 season when enjoying a five-plus run inning in a game.
Couper Cornblum delivered a two-run single and Paul Toetz ripped a two-run double down the left field line before Caskenette hit his three-run shot down the left field line for his first career home run at Alexander Field.
A two-out, two-run double from Evan Waggoner in the third inning and two-out, two-run homer from Ty Rumsey in the seventh inning were the big hits in Evansville's comeback. The Aces tied the game at 8-8 on Brent Widder's RBI single in the top of the seventh. Rumsey went deep into the right field bullpen two batters later.
Both teams used six pitchers. Evansville's bullpen managed to post six zeros. After giving up the home run to Caskenette, Michael Parks induced 10 consecutive ground ball outs while retiring the final 11 batters he faced. Purdue had six consecutive hits in the second inning but only four the rest of the game.
Carter Doorn and Jackson Dannelley teamed up for the Boilermakers' best stretch on the mound, retiring 10 of 12 batters faced while posting three consecutive zeros over the middle innings. Doorn struck out three in a row and Dannelley retired the first five batters he faced before the top of the UE lineup ignited a rally in the top of the seventh.
In center field, Cornblum made a diving catch to end the sixth inning and a sliding catch to end the following frame. Purdue also turned a pair of inning-ending double plays. But a dropped throw at third base when the Boilermakers had an opportunity to cut down the lead runner on a chopper to shortstop helped UE score a significant insurance run in the eighth inning.The Catch of the Night from @Couper_Cornblum. #BoilerUp 💎
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 5, 2023
Because of course @PurdueStein got the shot 📸 https://t.co/2rJTHTlp6b pic.twitter.com/cQNu4MNiDl
Jo Stevens ignited the second-inning rally with a one-out single, extending his on-base streak to 10 consecutive games. He's now had separate hit and on-base streaks of at least 10 games this season.
The Boilermakers are back in action Friday when they open a three-game series at Minnesota. First pitch in Minneapolis is slated for 6 p.m. ET.
More views of the new Camos. #BoilerUp 🟢⚪️🟤 pic.twitter.com/GJX5t8pvQH
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 4, 2023