WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Four Boilermakers all extended their notable long streaks and Purdue baseball had the tying run either on base or at the plate in each of the final two innings but could not complete the comeback in a 7-5 loss to South Dakota State on Saturday at Alexander Field.
Paul Toetz hit a long 440-foot home run to left field on the first pitch of the fifth inning, accounting for the Boilermakers' first hit of the day. It was his team-leading ninth long ball of the season and first since March 11. Toetz also doubled off the center field wall and was not retired on the day, extending his on-base streak to 17 consecutive games.
For the second day in a row, SDSU (19-21) went up 4-0 with a four-run inning. The Jackrabbits sent nine men to the plate in the top of the fourth, scoring all four runs with two outs. After an RBI triple from Nic Nelson, a cue shot off the bat of Cade Stuff eluded both pitcher Jonathan Blackwell and shortstop Lukas Cook, going for an infield hit. Two more run-scoring extra-base hits followed.
Purdue (22-23) loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth inning, putting the tying run at first. But SDSU closer Ryan Bourassa retired Mike Bolton Jr. on a ground out to second base on the first pitch he threw after inheriting the bases-loaded jam.
Couper Cornblum walked and Connor Caskenette connected for his third single of the day in the ninth inning, but Bourassa retired the next three batters without the Boilermakers being able to put the tying run aboard again.
NOTABLE STREAKS EXTENDED SATURDAY
• Connor Caskenette (3-for-5, 2 RBI) – 23-game on-base streak; 16-game hit streak; 15-game hit streak at Alexander
• Jake Parr (RBI Single) – 19-game on-base streak; 13-game on-base streak at Alexander
• Paul Toetz (2-for-2, 2B, HR, BB, HBP) – 17-game on-base streak; 13-game on-base streak at Alexander
• Couper Cornblum (Single, 2 BB, 3 R) – 12-game hit streak, 9-game hit streak at Alexander
Caskenette delivered two-out RBI singles in the fifth and seventh innings. He nearly scored the game-tying run in the bottom of the fifth but was called out on a close play at the while trying to score from second on Jake Parr's RBI single. SDSU right fielder Drew Beazley threw a runner out at the plate to end an inning for the second day in a row.
At 16 consecutive games, Caskenette is now riding Purdue's longest hit streak since Cameron Perkins had a 20-game streak in 2011. His 23-game on-base streak is also a team season high.
Blackwell and Davis Pratt both struck out five batters and the Boilermakers turned a season-high three double plays behind them. Blackwell (5-4) faced the minimum through the first three innings but the second time through the SDSU lineup spanned the entirety of the fourth inning. Pratt gave Purdue another successful long relief outing, working four innings of one-run ball.
After the Boilermakers made it a one-run game and got into the SDSU bullpen, the Jackrabbits hit a home run early in each of the next two innings to squash any momentum for the home team. Purdue also left 10 runners on base, its most in a loss since April 14.
The four-game series continues Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. It will be the annual Purdue University Dance Marathon/Riley Family Day fundraiser game. The Boilermakers will be wearing special jerseys for batting practice that will be available for purchase via silent auction, which opens at noon ET on Sunday.
Paul Toetz hit a long 440-foot home run to left field on the first pitch of the fifth inning, accounting for the Boilermakers' first hit of the day. It was his team-leading ninth long ball of the season and first since March 11. Toetz also doubled off the center field wall and was not retired on the day, extending his on-base streak to 17 consecutive games.
For the second day in a row, SDSU (19-21) went up 4-0 with a four-run inning. The Jackrabbits sent nine men to the plate in the top of the fourth, scoring all four runs with two outs. After an RBI triple from Nic Nelson, a cue shot off the bat of Cade Stuff eluded both pitcher Jonathan Blackwell and shortstop Lukas Cook, going for an infield hit. Two more run-scoring extra-base hits followed.
Purdue (22-23) loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth inning, putting the tying run at first. But SDSU closer Ryan Bourassa retired Mike Bolton Jr. on a ground out to second base on the first pitch he threw after inheriting the bases-loaded jam.
Couper Cornblum walked and Connor Caskenette connected for his third single of the day in the ninth inning, but Bourassa retired the next three batters without the Boilermakers being able to put the tying run aboard again.
NOTABLE STREAKS EXTENDED SATURDAY
• Connor Caskenette (3-for-5, 2 RBI) – 23-game on-base streak; 16-game hit streak; 15-game hit streak at Alexander
• Jake Parr (RBI Single) – 19-game on-base streak; 13-game on-base streak at Alexander
• Paul Toetz (2-for-2, 2B, HR, BB, HBP) – 17-game on-base streak; 13-game on-base streak at Alexander
• Couper Cornblum (Single, 2 BB, 3 R) – 12-game hit streak, 9-game hit streak at Alexander
Caskenette delivered two-out RBI singles in the fifth and seventh innings. He nearly scored the game-tying run in the bottom of the fifth but was called out on a close play at the while trying to score from second on Jake Parr's RBI single. SDSU right fielder Drew Beazley threw a runner out at the plate to end an inning for the second day in a row.
At 16 consecutive games, Caskenette is now riding Purdue's longest hit streak since Cameron Perkins had a 20-game streak in 2011. His 23-game on-base streak is also a team season high.
Blackwell and Davis Pratt both struck out five batters and the Boilermakers turned a season-high three double plays behind them. Blackwell (5-4) faced the minimum through the first three innings but the second time through the SDSU lineup spanned the entirety of the fourth inning. Pratt gave Purdue another successful long relief outing, working four innings of one-run ball.
After the Boilermakers made it a one-run game and got into the SDSU bullpen, the Jackrabbits hit a home run early in each of the next two innings to squash any momentum for the home team. Purdue also left 10 runners on base, its most in a loss since April 14.
The four-game series continues Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. It will be the annual Purdue University Dance Marathon/Riley Family Day fundraiser game. The Boilermakers will be wearing special jerseys for batting practice that will be available for purchase via silent auction, which opens at noon ET on Sunday.