WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Davis Pratt and Avery Cook teamed up for five consecutive zeros out of the bullpen, but Samford had already built a five-run lead and went on to deal Purdue Baseball its first home loss of the season 5-1 Friday at Alexander Field.
The Bulldogs (11-4) pounded out 15 hits and had multiple base runners in all but two innings, winning the game despite stranding 14 runners on the day.
Meanwhile, Michael Ross pitched to contact effectively while working seven innings of one-run ball. He conceded only one walk and one extra-base hit while improving to 4-0 on the season. The Boilermakers (13-4) had at least one base runner in each of the first six innings before Ross and Carson Lore teamed up to retire the final 11 batters of the game.
Pratt struck out five of the 16 batters he faced over 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief while taking the mound for the third consecutive game. The senior has eight strikeouts over 5 1/3 scoreless innings in his last three outings. Cook was the only pitcher to retire Samford's leading hitter, Garrett Howe (3-for-4, HR, 3 RBI), inducing an inning-ending 5-3 double play turned by Jo Stevens in the top of the seventh. Cook conceded just an infield single over 2 2/3 innings, enjoying his most effective outing of the season and his longest as a Boilermaker.
Howe capitalized on a 3-1 count while connecting for a two-run homer as the second batter of the game, winning a lefty-lefty matchup with Purdue starter Jordan Morales (3-2) in the process.
It was the bottom third of Samford's order that the burned the Boilermakers, teaming up with Garrett Staton (2-for-5, HR, BB, 2 R) and Howe at the top of the lineup to account for 13 of the Bulldogs' 15 hits. Andrew Bennett, Cade Carr and Aaron Walton were a combined 7-for-15 as the 7-8-9 combination. With few quick outs coming from the bottom of the order, the three Boilermakers to take the mound threw a combined 184 pitches Friday.
Luke Gaffney connected for an opposite-field double off the wall in right center to lead off the sixth and scored on Couper Cornblum's third single of the day. Purdue has been limited to a single run in both of its Friday losses against an opponent's ace pitcher this season.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Connor Caskenette – 23-game on-base streak at Home (since 3/31/23); 8-game on-base streak in all games
• Couper Cornblum – 19-game on-base streak at Home (since 4/15/23); 7-game on-base streak in all games
• Camden Gasser – 16-game on-base streak (every game he's played in 2024); 9-game hit streak
• Luke Gaffney – 6-game hit streak (every game at home in 2024)
Cleanup hitter Logan Sutter was kept off base for the first time as a Boilermaker, ending his on-base streak at 17 consecutive games.
The four-game series continues Saturday with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. One ticket is good for both games and reentry will be permitted.
The Bulldogs (11-4) pounded out 15 hits and had multiple base runners in all but two innings, winning the game despite stranding 14 runners on the day.
Meanwhile, Michael Ross pitched to contact effectively while working seven innings of one-run ball. He conceded only one walk and one extra-base hit while improving to 4-0 on the season. The Boilermakers (13-4) had at least one base runner in each of the first six innings before Ross and Carson Lore teamed up to retire the final 11 batters of the game.
Pratt struck out five of the 16 batters he faced over 3 1/3 innings of scoreless relief while taking the mound for the third consecutive game. The senior has eight strikeouts over 5 1/3 scoreless innings in his last three outings. Cook was the only pitcher to retire Samford's leading hitter, Garrett Howe (3-for-4, HR, 3 RBI), inducing an inning-ending 5-3 double play turned by Jo Stevens in the top of the seventh. Cook conceded just an infield single over 2 2/3 innings, enjoying his most effective outing of the season and his longest as a Boilermaker.
#4faves from the @purduebaseball game today. pic.twitter.com/UNbE84cFZv
— Dave Wegiel Photo (@pinolaphoto) March 15, 2024
Howe capitalized on a 3-1 count while connecting for a two-run homer as the second batter of the game, winning a lefty-lefty matchup with Purdue starter Jordan Morales (3-2) in the process.
It was the bottom third of Samford's order that the burned the Boilermakers, teaming up with Garrett Staton (2-for-5, HR, BB, 2 R) and Howe at the top of the lineup to account for 13 of the Bulldogs' 15 hits. Andrew Bennett, Cade Carr and Aaron Walton were a combined 7-for-15 as the 7-8-9 combination. With few quick outs coming from the bottom of the order, the three Boilermakers to take the mound threw a combined 184 pitches Friday.
Luke Gaffney connected for an opposite-field double off the wall in right center to lead off the sixth and scored on Couper Cornblum's third single of the day. Purdue has been limited to a single run in both of its Friday losses against an opponent's ace pitcher this season.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Connor Caskenette – 23-game on-base streak at Home (since 3/31/23); 8-game on-base streak in all games
• Couper Cornblum – 19-game on-base streak at Home (since 4/15/23); 7-game on-base streak in all games
• Camden Gasser – 16-game on-base streak (every game he's played in 2024); 9-game hit streak
• Luke Gaffney – 6-game hit streak (every game at home in 2024)
Cleanup hitter Logan Sutter was kept off base for the first time as a Boilermaker, ending his on-base streak at 17 consecutive games.
The four-game series continues Saturday with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. One ticket is good for both games and reentry will be permitted.
Another #4faves from the @PurdueBaseball game this afternoon. pic.twitter.com/RTTzewi54E
— Dave Wegiel Photo (@pinolaphoto) March 15, 2024