SUGAR LAND, Texas – Home runs from Keenan Spence and Connor Caskenette powered a comeback as Purdue Baseball scored 10 unanswered runs to overcome another early deficit in a 13-6 series-clinching win vs. Stony Brook on Sunday.
The Boilermakers (3-1) outscored SBU (1-3) 21-6 from the fourth through seventh innings over the final two games of the series. That allowed Purdue to overcome a 3-0 deficit Saturday evening and 5-0 deficit Sunday. Powered by 12 extra-baes hits and .460 team on-base percentage, Purdue racked up 25 runs over 16 innings at the plate in the final two games of the series.
In his collegiate debut, Cole Van Assen worked 3 2/3 innings of two-hit relief to set the stage for the comeback. He needed only 42 pitches to give Purdue 11 outs and would have gone four scoreless frames if not for a two-out error in the seventh inning that led to an unearned tally after the freshman left the mound.
In the bottom of the sixth, moments after the Boilermakers had taken the lead for the first time on a bases-loaded walk to Couper Cornblum, Caskenette barreled up a pitch for a game-changing grand slam. It was his second opposite-field homer of the series.
Spence connected for a towering two-run blast off the roof of the picnic plaza in left field, a no-doubter that went for his first hit and home run as a Boilermaker. Aussies Jo Stevens and Spence both reached base safely three times in the win, scoring six of the team's 13 runs.
Luke Gaffney and Logan Sutter hit safely in all four games, finishing the weekend with nine hits apiece to go along with a combined 12 RBI and 12 runs scored. They started the comeback with consecutive hits in the bottom of the second, scoring on a wild pitch and RBI fielder's choice. Sutter had a double and multi-hit effort in all four games of the series.
Cornblum reached base safely three times, highlighted by a two-run ground-rule double in the seventh inning. Purdue's center fielder is riding a 24-game on-base streak dating back to the end of 2023.
Veteran relievers Avery Cook and Griffin Lohman teamed up to record the final seven outs of the game. Cook debuted his new sidearm delivery in game action and Lohman closed out the win in his return from injury, making his first appearance since the 2022 Big Ten Tournament.
The Boilermakers are now 10-2 at Constellation Field while opening their last three seasons at the Triple-A stadium. They also won their season-opening series for the fourth time in five years under head coach Greg Goff.
Purdue returns to action Friday when it begins another four-game series in a familiar locale, hosting George Mason at Ting Stadium in Holly Springs, N.C.
The Boilermakers (3-1) outscored SBU (1-3) 21-6 from the fourth through seventh innings over the final two games of the series. That allowed Purdue to overcome a 3-0 deficit Saturday evening and 5-0 deficit Sunday. Powered by 12 extra-baes hits and .460 team on-base percentage, Purdue racked up 25 runs over 16 innings at the plate in the final two games of the series.
In his collegiate debut, Cole Van Assen worked 3 2/3 innings of two-hit relief to set the stage for the comeback. He needed only 42 pitches to give Purdue 11 outs and would have gone four scoreless frames if not for a two-out error in the seventh inning that led to an unearned tally after the freshman left the mound.
In the bottom of the sixth, moments after the Boilermakers had taken the lead for the first time on a bases-loaded walk to Couper Cornblum, Caskenette barreled up a pitch for a game-changing grand slam. It was his second opposite-field homer of the series.
Spence connected for a towering two-run blast off the roof of the picnic plaza in left field, a no-doubter that went for his first hit and home run as a Boilermaker. Aussies Jo Stevens and Spence both reached base safely three times in the win, scoring six of the team's 13 runs.
Luke Gaffney and Logan Sutter hit safely in all four games, finishing the weekend with nine hits apiece to go along with a combined 12 RBI and 12 runs scored. They started the comeback with consecutive hits in the bottom of the second, scoring on a wild pitch and RBI fielder's choice. Sutter had a double and multi-hit effort in all four games of the series.
Cornblum reached base safely three times, highlighted by a two-run ground-rule double in the seventh inning. Purdue's center fielder is riding a 24-game on-base streak dating back to the end of 2023.
Veteran relievers Avery Cook and Griffin Lohman teamed up to record the final seven outs of the game. Cook debuted his new sidearm delivery in game action and Lohman closed out the win in his return from injury, making his first appearance since the 2022 Big Ten Tournament.
The Boilermakers are now 10-2 at Constellation Field while opening their last three seasons at the Triple-A stadium. They also won their season-opening series for the fourth time in five years under head coach Greg Goff.
Purdue returns to action Friday when it begins another four-game series in a familiar locale, hosting George Mason at Ting Stadium in Holly Springs, N.C.