HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. – Purdue Baseball recorded 21 runs on 26 hits Saturday afternoon, splitting a doubleheader with George Mason at Ting Park. A hot start helped the Patriots (2-5) take game one 11-9, while the Boilermakers (5-2) were in control throughout game two in a 12-5 victory.
Reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week Luke Gaffney continued to rake, as the Danville, Kentucky, native produced two more multi-hit games in Holly Springs. He went a combined 5-for-9 with two RBI and four runs, leading Purdue in hits and runs throughout the day. Keenan Spence had himself an afternoon as well, going 2-for-4 with three runs and one RBI in game one before belting his second homer of the season as part of a 2-for-3, three-RBI game two.
Along with 13 hits in each game, Purdue hitters were plunked a combined eight times on Saturday.
The Boilermakers and Patriots wrap up the four-game series on Sunday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. ET. Extended recaps for each game Saturday can be found below.
Game 1: George Mason 11, Purdue 9
The Boilermakers faced a deficit immediately and fell into a hole they couldn't get out of, dropping game one 11-9. Trailing by seven, Purdue scored three runs in the sixth and three more in the ninth, bringing the tying run to the plate before the Patriots held on for the early win.
Getting his first assignment behind the dish this weekend, Aaron Dolney went 3-for-3 with two RBI and one run. Gaffney (3-for-5), Spence (2-for-4) and Camden Gasser (2-for-4) recorded multi-hit games at the plate as well. Spence's three runs paced Purdue.
Jonathan Blackwell (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing seven runs on 10 hits over 3.1 innings. Carter Doorn was a bright spot on the mound, coming out of the bullpen to pitch three scoreless innings.
Four-hit games by Jordan Smith and Reece Woody led George Mason to victory. Evan Blanchard added three hits, as the Patriots racked up 20 as a team in the first game.
George Mason jumped out to early lead with a pair of runs in each of the first two innings. Gasser put Purdue on the board with an RBI single in the bottom of the second, and Blackwell followed it up with an eight-pitch inning to send the Patriots down in order.
A four-run fourth inning increased Purdue's deficit, but the Boilermakers got two back after a pinch-hit double by Keenan Taylor. After George Mason added two more runs in the sixth, Purdue countered with three runs courtesy of RBI from Dolney, Gasser and Camden Melvin.
Trailing by five in the ninth, Purdue continued to fight and brought the tying run to the plate. Three runs crossed the dish as part of a two-out rally. Back-to-back doubles by Logan Sutter and Spence drove in a pair of Boilermakers, while Dolney followed the extra-base hits with another RBI single. Representing the tying run, Brody Chrisman tried to keep the comeback alive but flew out to right field to end the game.
Game 2: Purdue 12, George Mason 5
The Boilermakers exploded for 12 runs between innings two through six, building a comfortable lead to cruise to a 12-5 victory and earn the doubleheader split.
The top of the Purdue lineup led the way with the first four batters recording two hits apiece. Batting leadoff for the first time this weekend, Couper Cornblum went 2-for-5 with three runs, while Gasser added a pair of hits in his move up the lineup from the nine hole. Connor Caskenette drove in a team-high three RBI to match Taylor and Spence. In the cleanup spot, Gaffney scored three runs and tallied two RBI as part of another multi-hit game, including belting his second home run of the weekend.
On the rubber, Kyle Iwinski (1-0) picked up his first win of his senior campaign, lasting five innings and surrendering only three runs. Out of the bullpen, fellow senior Davis Pratt was able to make the George Mason bats miss with three strikeouts during his inning of relief.
The Patriots matched the Boilermakers with 13 hits but only managed five runs. Logan Rumberg (0-1) started the game, allowing seven runs (six earned) on six hits through four innings. James Quinn-Irons went 2-for-5 with three RBI to pace the Patriots at the dish.
Just like the first game, George Mason scored in the opening frame. Gaffney tied the game in the second with a solo shot before the Patriots tallied two runs in the third. Purdue got one run back in the bottom of the third before Spence sent a no-doubt, two-run blast over the left field fence in the fourth to give the Boilermakers their first lead of the game, 4-3.
Back-to-back four-run innings increased Purdue's advantage to nine. Cornblum, Gasser and Casketnette started the surge with base hits, including Caskenette driving in both of his teammates. Three straight Boilermakers were hit by pitches, and the addition of a sacrifice fly brought two more runs across the plate. One inning later, the bottom of the sixth, Caskenette and Gaffney produced RBI singles before both Boilermakers scored on a double by Taylor to make it 12-3 in favor of the Old Gold and Black.
George Mason scored runs in the seventh and ninth but never threatened to get back in the game, as the Purdue bullpen kept the Patriots in check to secure a convincing win.
Reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week Luke Gaffney continued to rake, as the Danville, Kentucky, native produced two more multi-hit games in Holly Springs. He went a combined 5-for-9 with two RBI and four runs, leading Purdue in hits and runs throughout the day. Keenan Spence had himself an afternoon as well, going 2-for-4 with three runs and one RBI in game one before belting his second homer of the season as part of a 2-for-3, three-RBI game two.
Along with 13 hits in each game, Purdue hitters were plunked a combined eight times on Saturday.
The Boilermakers and Patriots wrap up the four-game series on Sunday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. ET. Extended recaps for each game Saturday can be found below.
Game 1: George Mason 11, Purdue 9
The Boilermakers faced a deficit immediately and fell into a hole they couldn't get out of, dropping game one 11-9. Trailing by seven, Purdue scored three runs in the sixth and three more in the ninth, bringing the tying run to the plate before the Patriots held on for the early win.
Getting his first assignment behind the dish this weekend, Aaron Dolney went 3-for-3 with two RBI and one run. Gaffney (3-for-5), Spence (2-for-4) and Camden Gasser (2-for-4) recorded multi-hit games at the plate as well. Spence's three runs paced Purdue.
Jonathan Blackwell (0-1) suffered the loss after allowing seven runs on 10 hits over 3.1 innings. Carter Doorn was a bright spot on the mound, coming out of the bullpen to pitch three scoreless innings.
Four-hit games by Jordan Smith and Reece Woody led George Mason to victory. Evan Blanchard added three hits, as the Patriots racked up 20 as a team in the first game.
George Mason jumped out to early lead with a pair of runs in each of the first two innings. Gasser put Purdue on the board with an RBI single in the bottom of the second, and Blackwell followed it up with an eight-pitch inning to send the Patriots down in order.
A four-run fourth inning increased Purdue's deficit, but the Boilermakers got two back after a pinch-hit double by Keenan Taylor. After George Mason added two more runs in the sixth, Purdue countered with three runs courtesy of RBI from Dolney, Gasser and Camden Melvin.
Trailing by five in the ninth, Purdue continued to fight and brought the tying run to the plate. Three runs crossed the dish as part of a two-out rally. Back-to-back doubles by Logan Sutter and Spence drove in a pair of Boilermakers, while Dolney followed the extra-base hits with another RBI single. Representing the tying run, Brody Chrisman tried to keep the comeback alive but flew out to right field to end the game.
Game 2: Purdue 12, George Mason 5
The Boilermakers exploded for 12 runs between innings two through six, building a comfortable lead to cruise to a 12-5 victory and earn the doubleheader split.
The top of the Purdue lineup led the way with the first four batters recording two hits apiece. Batting leadoff for the first time this weekend, Couper Cornblum went 2-for-5 with three runs, while Gasser added a pair of hits in his move up the lineup from the nine hole. Connor Caskenette drove in a team-high three RBI to match Taylor and Spence. In the cleanup spot, Gaffney scored three runs and tallied two RBI as part of another multi-hit game, including belting his second home run of the weekend.
On the rubber, Kyle Iwinski (1-0) picked up his first win of his senior campaign, lasting five innings and surrendering only three runs. Out of the bullpen, fellow senior Davis Pratt was able to make the George Mason bats miss with three strikeouts during his inning of relief.
The Patriots matched the Boilermakers with 13 hits but only managed five runs. Logan Rumberg (0-1) started the game, allowing seven runs (six earned) on six hits through four innings. James Quinn-Irons went 2-for-5 with three RBI to pace the Patriots at the dish.
Just like the first game, George Mason scored in the opening frame. Gaffney tied the game in the second with a solo shot before the Patriots tallied two runs in the third. Purdue got one run back in the bottom of the third before Spence sent a no-doubt, two-run blast over the left field fence in the fourth to give the Boilermakers their first lead of the game, 4-3.
Back-to-back four-run innings increased Purdue's advantage to nine. Cornblum, Gasser and Casketnette started the surge with base hits, including Caskenette driving in both of his teammates. Three straight Boilermakers were hit by pitches, and the addition of a sacrifice fly brought two more runs across the plate. One inning later, the bottom of the sixth, Caskenette and Gaffney produced RBI singles before both Boilermakers scored on a double by Taylor to make it 12-3 in favor of the Old Gold and Black.
George Mason scored runs in the seventh and ninth but never threatened to get back in the game, as the Purdue bullpen kept the Patriots in check to secure a convincing win.