HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. – Home runs from Luke Gaffney and Logan Sutter, combined with the pitching duo of Jordan Morales and Jackson Dannelley, propelled Purdue Baseball to a 7-4 victory over George Mason at Ting Park Friday evening. After the first pitch was pushed back two hours due to rain and allowing three runs in the top of the first, the Boilermakers (4-1) settled in to take the first matchup in the four-game set.
Morales (2-0) earned his second win in as many starts, giving up four runs but all were unearned. The grad transfer struck out eight and only walked one batter over six-plus innings. Dannelley (2) was electric in relief, tossing three no-hit innings to pick up the save and secure the win.
At the plate, the heart of the lineup delivered six of the team's seven RBI. Gaffney, the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week, put the Boilermakers on the board in the opening inning with a two-run blast for his first career home run. In the five hole, Sutter did his job as the designated hitter, going 2-for-4 with a team-high three RBI. At the bottom of the lineup, shortstop Camden Gasser produced a multi-hit game of his own while also driving in a run. Purdue tagged George Mason starting pitcher Nick Martins (0-2) for six runs on six hits through four innings.
James Quinn-Irons gave the Patriots (1-4) an early 3-0 lead with a three-run homer to right center field in the top of the first. When the Boilermakers got to the dish, Gaffney proved that he could do the same with his two-run homer clearing the right center wall with ease. After Morales put up a scoreless frame in the second, a Gasser single tied the game at 3-3.
Sutter's three-run homer in the third gave the Boilermakers their first lead of the game, 6-3, one they would not relinquish. George Mason answered with a run in the fourth, but Purdue got it back in the sixth on an RBI by Connor Casketnette to push the cushion back to three, 7-4.
After Morales gave up a leadoff single in the seventh, Dannelley entered the game and walked his first batter on four straight pitches. However, the righty buckled down and struck our three straight Patriots to get out of the jam. He added a scoreless eighth before retiring the side in the ninth to earn his second save of the season.
Purdue and George Mason continue the weekend series with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. ET.
Morales (2-0) earned his second win in as many starts, giving up four runs but all were unearned. The grad transfer struck out eight and only walked one batter over six-plus innings. Dannelley (2) was electric in relief, tossing three no-hit innings to pick up the save and secure the win.
At the plate, the heart of the lineup delivered six of the team's seven RBI. Gaffney, the reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week, put the Boilermakers on the board in the opening inning with a two-run blast for his first career home run. In the five hole, Sutter did his job as the designated hitter, going 2-for-4 with a team-high three RBI. At the bottom of the lineup, shortstop Camden Gasser produced a multi-hit game of his own while also driving in a run. Purdue tagged George Mason starting pitcher Nick Martins (0-2) for six runs on six hits through four innings.
James Quinn-Irons gave the Patriots (1-4) an early 3-0 lead with a three-run homer to right center field in the top of the first. When the Boilermakers got to the dish, Gaffney proved that he could do the same with his two-run homer clearing the right center wall with ease. After Morales put up a scoreless frame in the second, a Gasser single tied the game at 3-3.
Sutter's three-run homer in the third gave the Boilermakers their first lead of the game, 6-3, one they would not relinquish. George Mason answered with a run in the fourth, but Purdue got it back in the sixth on an RBI by Connor Casketnette to push the cushion back to three, 7-4.
After Morales gave up a leadoff single in the seventh, Dannelley entered the game and walked his first batter on four straight pitches. However, the righty buckled down and struck our three straight Patriots to get out of the jam. He added a scoreless eighth before retiring the side in the ninth to earn his second save of the season.
Purdue and George Mason continue the weekend series with a doubleheader on Saturday beginning at 1 p.m. ET.