WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Indiana State scored seven times over the final two innings to break a 2-2 stalemate, defeating Purdue Baseball 9-3 in a midweek rematch Tuesday at Alexander Field.
The Sycamores (24-7) loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the eighth and Mike Sears delivered the big hit, a two-run double to the wall in center field. A sacrifice fly followed. The Boilermakers (20-13) used four pitchers in the inning and eight total on the night.
Held without an extra-base hit for the second time in the last four games after it did not happen in the team's first 29 games, Purdue manufactured each of its first two runs and found itself tied with ISU in the eighth inning for the second time this season.
Keenan Taylor and Jo Stevens teamed up for an exquisitely executed hit and run in the second inning, with Taylor going first to third and Stevens chopped a slow roller through the vacated right side of the infield. After a strikeout, Thomas Green successfully executed a squeeze bunt on the first pitch of his at-bat.
Mike Bolton Jr.'s leadoff single led to the game-tying run in the bottom of the fifth. Luke Gaffney drew a walk and Connor Caskenette was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Taylor hit a fly ball to center field to plate Bolton without a throw.
Gaffney capped a three-hit night with a two-out RBI single in the ninth inning. It was his team-leading sixth game of the season with a least three hits, raising his team-leading batting average to .395. He also matched Caskenette with a team-high 39 RBI.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Jo Stevens – 19-game on-base streak; 8-game hit streak; 12-game on-base streak at home
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 12-game on-base streak; 5-game hit streak
• Luke Gaffney – 11-game on-base streak
• Connor Caskenette – 9-game on-base streak
• Keenan Spence – 6-game on-base streak
• Jackson Dannelley – 15 consecutive inherited runners stranded (since 5/20/23)
Cole Van Assen was effective (3 2/3 IP, 0 ER, BB, 4 K) again in his fourth midweek start of the season, but it was the freshman's throwing error while trying to cut down the lead runner at second base in the fourth inning that led to ISU's only runs until the visitors broke it open late. The throw sailed into center field, giving the Sycamores runners on the corners with no outs. An RBI ground out and two-out double from the 9-hole hitter scored the runs.
Avery Cook recorded six outs on just 12 pitches while working consecutive 1-2-3 innings in the sixth and seventh. But he conceded a leadoff single and plunked the next batter in the top of the eighth to set the stage for ISU's go-ahead rally.
Carter Doorn gave Purdue another effective relief outing, retiring four of five batters faced without surrendering a hit. He has retired 28 of 32 batters faced over his last three appearances dating back to March 31.
Stevens made the top defensive play of the night, a diving catch in foul territory behind the third base bag to help Doorn strand an inherited runner at second base in the fourth inning.
Van Assen has not been charged with an earned run in four of his seven appearances this season, all being at least 2 2/3 innings. He gave up just one earned run over a combined seven innings in his two starts against ISU this season.
The Boilermakers' nine-game homestand continues with Friday's series opener vs. Michigan State. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.
The Sycamores (24-7) loaded the bases with no outs in the top of the eighth and Mike Sears delivered the big hit, a two-run double to the wall in center field. A sacrifice fly followed. The Boilermakers (20-13) used four pitchers in the inning and eight total on the night.
Held without an extra-base hit for the second time in the last four games after it did not happen in the team's first 29 games, Purdue manufactured each of its first two runs and found itself tied with ISU in the eighth inning for the second time this season.
Keenan Taylor and Jo Stevens teamed up for an exquisitely executed hit and run in the second inning, with Taylor going first to third and Stevens chopped a slow roller through the vacated right side of the infield. After a strikeout, Thomas Green successfully executed a squeeze bunt on the first pitch of his at-bat.
Mike Bolton Jr.'s leadoff single led to the game-tying run in the bottom of the fifth. Luke Gaffney drew a walk and Connor Caskenette was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out. Taylor hit a fly ball to center field to plate Bolton without a throw.
Gaffney capped a three-hit night with a two-out RBI single in the ninth inning. It was his team-leading sixth game of the season with a least three hits, raising his team-leading batting average to .395. He also matched Caskenette with a team-high 39 RBI.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Jo Stevens – 19-game on-base streak; 8-game hit streak; 12-game on-base streak at home
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 12-game on-base streak; 5-game hit streak
• Luke Gaffney – 11-game on-base streak
• Connor Caskenette – 9-game on-base streak
• Keenan Spence – 6-game on-base streak
• Jackson Dannelley – 15 consecutive inherited runners stranded (since 5/20/23)
Cole Van Assen was effective (3 2/3 IP, 0 ER, BB, 4 K) again in his fourth midweek start of the season, but it was the freshman's throwing error while trying to cut down the lead runner at second base in the fourth inning that led to ISU's only runs until the visitors broke it open late. The throw sailed into center field, giving the Sycamores runners on the corners with no outs. An RBI ground out and two-out double from the 9-hole hitter scored the runs.
Avery Cook recorded six outs on just 12 pitches while working consecutive 1-2-3 innings in the sixth and seventh. But he conceded a leadoff single and plunked the next batter in the top of the eighth to set the stage for ISU's go-ahead rally.
Carter Doorn gave Purdue another effective relief outing, retiring four of five batters faced without surrendering a hit. He has retired 28 of 32 batters faced over his last three appearances dating back to March 31.
Stevens made the top defensive play of the night, a diving catch in foul territory behind the third base bag to help Doorn strand an inherited runner at second base in the fourth inning.
Van Assen has not been charged with an earned run in four of his seven appearances this season, all being at least 2 2/3 innings. He gave up just one earned run over a combined seven innings in his two starts against ISU this season.
The Boilermakers' nine-game homestand continues with Friday's series opener vs. Michigan State. First pitch is set for 6 p.m.