WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – With the first 11 batters of the game reaching base safely, Purdue Baseball erupted for a 10-run inning for the second Sunday in a row and the extended rally powered the Boilermakers to an 11-3 victory vs. Cal State Fullerton on the final day of ECU's Keith LeClair Classic.
The Boilermakers (8-3) posted a double-figure run total for the third Sunday in a row, clinching another victorious weekend in the process. They've scored 35 runs on Sundays this season. The 2012 Big Ten championship team was Purdue's last to score 10-plus runs in a victory in each of the first three weekends of a season.
The Boilermakers scored 10 or more runs in an inning for the fourth time since April 2022 after going eight consecutive seasons without such an inning from 2014 to 2021. Three of those four big innings have come in the state of North Carolina, where Purdue is now 23-6 since 2019.
Connor Caskenette had a pair of RBI singles in the 10-run inning, driving in three of the runs. Mike Bolton Jr., Camden Gasser and Logan Sutter all reached base safely twice in the frame via a hit and a walk. Camden Gasser, Keenan Spence, and Couper Cornblum all connected for a double in the inning as the Boilermakers scored 10 times without the luxury of a home run.
The four through eight portion of the lineup knocked around Fullerton's freshman starting pitcher to the tune of five consecutive hits in the first inning. Sutter and Caskenette delivered RBI singles, Spence barreled up for a double to center field, Cornblum followed with a two-run double and Jo Stevens kept the line moving with an RBI single. A walk to Thomas Green then led to a pitching change as Chad Gurnea (0-2) failed to retire a batter on his trip through the lineup.
Even after waiting approximately 25 minutes before finally taking the mound, Purdue starter Kyle Iwinski struck out the side in order in the bottom of the first and retired the first six batters he faced. The Boilermakers cruised through five 1-2-3 innings while they were in the field, with Aaron Suval (1-0) and Iwinski both accounting for a pair. Carter Doorn also worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning.
The Boilermakers turned a pair of double plays Sunday, both coming in innings in which Fullerton had its leadoff man reach base safely. Purdue was charged with just one error on the weekend, playing flawless defense in both of its victories.
Luke Gaffney beat out an infield hit in the fourth inning to extend his hit streak to 10 consecutive games to begin his college career. Sutter and Gasser have been on base safely in every game they've played this season, extending those streaks to 11 and nine consecutive games Sunday. Sutter was on base three times Sunday but saw his streak of nine straight games with a run scored come to an end.
Purdue, East Carolina and Southeastern Louisiana all finished the Keith LeClair Classic with 2-1 records. Cal State Fullerton was 0-3. Purdue defeated SELA, ECU defeated Purdue, and SELA defeated ECU. The Boilermakers had the best run differential at plus-7.
The Boilermakers are scheduled to play their next 15 games in the state of Indiana. That stretch begins with Tuesday's midweek opener at Notre Dame before Purdue opens a 13-game homestand Friday with its earliest home opener ever (March 8 vs. Albany).
The Boilermakers (8-3) posted a double-figure run total for the third Sunday in a row, clinching another victorious weekend in the process. They've scored 35 runs on Sundays this season. The 2012 Big Ten championship team was Purdue's last to score 10-plus runs in a victory in each of the first three weekends of a season.
The Boilermakers scored 10 or more runs in an inning for the fourth time since April 2022 after going eight consecutive seasons without such an inning from 2014 to 2021. Three of those four big innings have come in the state of North Carolina, where Purdue is now 23-6 since 2019.
Connor Caskenette had a pair of RBI singles in the 10-run inning, driving in three of the runs. Mike Bolton Jr., Camden Gasser and Logan Sutter all reached base safely twice in the frame via a hit and a walk. Camden Gasser, Keenan Spence, and Couper Cornblum all connected for a double in the inning as the Boilermakers scored 10 times without the luxury of a home run.
The four through eight portion of the lineup knocked around Fullerton's freshman starting pitcher to the tune of five consecutive hits in the first inning. Sutter and Caskenette delivered RBI singles, Spence barreled up for a double to center field, Cornblum followed with a two-run double and Jo Stevens kept the line moving with an RBI single. A walk to Thomas Green then led to a pitching change as Chad Gurnea (0-2) failed to retire a batter on his trip through the lineup.
Even after waiting approximately 25 minutes before finally taking the mound, Purdue starter Kyle Iwinski struck out the side in order in the bottom of the first and retired the first six batters he faced. The Boilermakers cruised through five 1-2-3 innings while they were in the field, with Aaron Suval (1-0) and Iwinski both accounting for a pair. Carter Doorn also worked a 1-2-3 eighth inning.
The Boilermakers turned a pair of double plays Sunday, both coming in innings in which Fullerton had its leadoff man reach base safely. Purdue was charged with just one error on the weekend, playing flawless defense in both of its victories.
Luke Gaffney beat out an infield hit in the fourth inning to extend his hit streak to 10 consecutive games to begin his college career. Sutter and Gasser have been on base safely in every game they've played this season, extending those streaks to 11 and nine consecutive games Sunday. Sutter was on base three times Sunday but saw his streak of nine straight games with a run scored come to an end.
Purdue, East Carolina and Southeastern Louisiana all finished the Keith LeClair Classic with 2-1 records. Cal State Fullerton was 0-3. Purdue defeated SELA, ECU defeated Purdue, and SELA defeated ECU. The Boilermakers had the best run differential at plus-7.
The Boilermakers are scheduled to play their next 15 games in the state of Indiana. That stretch begins with Tuesday's midweek opener at Notre Dame before Purdue opens a 13-game homestand Friday with its earliest home opener ever (March 8 vs. Albany).