SOUTH BEND, Ind. – Notre Dame scored the game's final eight runs to blow open a one-run affair through five innings, defeating Purdue Baseball 11-2 in the midweek opener for both teams Tuesday.
Connor Caskenette's two-run single on a full-count pitch in the fifth inning put the Boilermakers (8-4) on the board and cut UND's lead to 3-2. The base hit plated Ty Gill and Mike Bolton Jr. as RBI numbers 16 and 17 for the Purdue catcher.
The key sequence of the game came in the bottom of the sixth as the Irish (9-2) scored four times with two outs. With runners on second and third, Brady Gumpf connected for an opposite-field double to right. Estevan Moreno followed with a two-run homer to center field, his second long ball of the day.
Moreno led off the eighth inning with his third home run of the day, hitting one to all fields from the 8-hole in the lineup. Connor Hincks also had a big day in the 3-hole, finishing a home run shy of the cycle and scoring all three times he was aboard.
There were two close plays on runners sliding into third base and both plays went in favor of the home team. After doubling to open the fourth inning, Hincks slid in under the tag as shortstop Camden Gasser tried to cut down the runner at third base on an infield chopper. Consecutive RBI singles followed. In the top of the fifth, Jo Stevens tried to go first to third on Gill's base hit into left center. Gumpf made an excellent throw and Stevens was tagged out on a close play for the first out.
Logan Sutter connected for a one-out double in the fourth inning, his Big Ten-leading ninth of the season. He also remains among the top five nationally. Gill doubled in the ninth inning to finish the day 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. The second baseman also turned an inning-ending 4-3 double play to finish off Aaron Suval's scoreless fifth inning.
Bennett Flynn retired eight of the 10 batters he faced over three innings of one-hit relief as the most effective pitcher of the day for the Irish. He teamed up with Radek Birkholz to retire eight consecutive Purdue hitters after Caskenette's two-run single.
The Boilermakers loaded the bases with one out in the ninth inning but Caskenette flew out to the wall in left field to end the game.
Luke Gaffney was held hitless for the first time as a Boilermaker, seeing his team-best 10-game hit streak come to an end. Sutter extended his on-base streak to 12 consecutive games and Gasser kept his on-base streak alive at 10 straight games.
Purdue open its 30-game home schedule this weekend with Friday's 4 p.m. home opener vs. UAlbany. The four-game set vs. the Great Danes marks the beginning of a 13-game homestand. March 8 also represents the earliest home opener in program history.
Connor Caskenette's two-run single on a full-count pitch in the fifth inning put the Boilermakers (8-4) on the board and cut UND's lead to 3-2. The base hit plated Ty Gill and Mike Bolton Jr. as RBI numbers 16 and 17 for the Purdue catcher.
The key sequence of the game came in the bottom of the sixth as the Irish (9-2) scored four times with two outs. With runners on second and third, Brady Gumpf connected for an opposite-field double to right. Estevan Moreno followed with a two-run homer to center field, his second long ball of the day.
Moreno led off the eighth inning with his third home run of the day, hitting one to all fields from the 8-hole in the lineup. Connor Hincks also had a big day in the 3-hole, finishing a home run shy of the cycle and scoring all three times he was aboard.
There were two close plays on runners sliding into third base and both plays went in favor of the home team. After doubling to open the fourth inning, Hincks slid in under the tag as shortstop Camden Gasser tried to cut down the runner at third base on an infield chopper. Consecutive RBI singles followed. In the top of the fifth, Jo Stevens tried to go first to third on Gill's base hit into left center. Gumpf made an excellent throw and Stevens was tagged out on a close play for the first out.
Logan Sutter connected for a one-out double in the fourth inning, his Big Ten-leading ninth of the season. He also remains among the top five nationally. Gill doubled in the ninth inning to finish the day 2-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. The second baseman also turned an inning-ending 4-3 double play to finish off Aaron Suval's scoreless fifth inning.
Bennett Flynn retired eight of the 10 batters he faced over three innings of one-hit relief as the most effective pitcher of the day for the Irish. He teamed up with Radek Birkholz to retire eight consecutive Purdue hitters after Caskenette's two-run single.
The Boilermakers loaded the bases with one out in the ninth inning but Caskenette flew out to the wall in left field to end the game.
Luke Gaffney was held hitless for the first time as a Boilermaker, seeing his team-best 10-game hit streak come to an end. Sutter extended his on-base streak to 12 consecutive games and Gasser kept his on-base streak alive at 10 straight games.
Purdue open its 30-game home schedule this weekend with Friday's 4 p.m. home opener vs. UAlbany. The four-game set vs. the Great Danes marks the beginning of a 13-game homestand. March 8 also represents the earliest home opener in program history.