WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Australians Jo Stevens and Keenan Spence teamed up for Purdue Baseball's third set of back-to-back home runs this season, providing the run support to back up a quality start from Jordan Morales as the Boilermakers defeated Michigan State 7-2 Friday at Alexander Field.
Purdue (21-13, 6-4 Big Ten) has won five straight games in Big Ten play for the first time since April 2021.
Morales (5-3) struck out six over 7 2/3 innings of two-run ball, throwing 115 pitches in the longest outing of the season by a Boilermaker. The lefty kept MSU (14-17, 3-4 Big Ten) off the scoreboard until the top of the fifth, with Purdue having already built a 4-0 lead by that point. He has helped Purdue go 3-1 on Fridays over the first half of the Big Ten season.
Spence finished a triple shy of the cycle on a three-hit, three-RBI night. Stevens homered into the right field bullpen at Alexander Field for the second time this season, connecting for a two-out, two-run homer in the third inning that changed the scope of the game early. Spence followed with a towering home run to center field. The Aussies drove in five of the Boilermakers' seven runs on the night.
Keenan Taylor scored in all three innings in which Purdue put runs on the board. He connected for an RBI double to center field in the fifth inning, a frame in which the Boilermakers barreled up for a trio of two-baggers. But it was Taylor staying out of an inning-ending double play by beating the throw to first in the third inning that turned out to be one of the key plays of the night. Stevens followed with his opposite-field home run, which he elevated into the jet stream that was gusting out to right field for much of the night.
Luke Gaffney, Taylor and Spence were the Boilermakers with doubles in the three-run fifth inning that extended the lead to 7-1.
Spence delivered an RBI single in his first at-bat of the night, plating Taylor from second base after a sacrifice bunt from Stevens.
• Jo Stevens – 20-game on-base streak; 9-game hit streak; 13-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 5/18/23); 13-game on-base streak at home
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 13-game on-base streak; 16-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 4/29/23)
• Luke Gaffney – 12-game on-base streak; 10-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
• Connor Caskenette – 10-game on-base streak; 8-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
• Keenan Spence – 7-game on-base streak; 6-game hit streak in Big Ten play
• Couper Cornblum – 7-game on-base streak in Big Ten play; 87 consecutive games started (since start of 2023)
Avery Cook got the final out of the eighth inning, stranding the bases loaded with the potential tying run in the on-deck circle. The senior went on to work a 1-2-3 inning vs. the top of the MSU lineup, earning his first save since April 2021 during Purdue's last five-game win streak in Big Ten play. Cook also joined Carter Doorn and Aaron Suval as Boilermakers this season to inherit the bases loaded and not allow a run to score. All three instances have come during the current conference win streak.
Shortstop Camden Gasser and left fielder Brody Chrisman accounted for the top defensive plays of the night. Gasser opened the eighth inning by taking away a leadoff single. Chrisman made a diving catch to help Morales post a 1-2-3 inning vs. the 3-4-5 portion of MSU's lineup in the top of the fourth.
The Boilermakers have hit three sets of back-to-back home runs in a season for the first time since 2021. Prior to that year, Purdue had not achieved the feat since 2010. All three sets of back-to-back jacks this season have come in home wins.
Game 2 of the series is set for Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.
Purdue (21-13, 6-4 Big Ten) has won five straight games in Big Ten play for the first time since April 2021.
Morales (5-3) struck out six over 7 2/3 innings of two-run ball, throwing 115 pitches in the longest outing of the season by a Boilermaker. The lefty kept MSU (14-17, 3-4 Big Ten) off the scoreboard until the top of the fifth, with Purdue having already built a 4-0 lead by that point. He has helped Purdue go 3-1 on Fridays over the first half of the Big Ten season.
Spence finished a triple shy of the cycle on a three-hit, three-RBI night. Stevens homered into the right field bullpen at Alexander Field for the second time this season, connecting for a two-out, two-run homer in the third inning that changed the scope of the game early. Spence followed with a towering home run to center field. The Aussies drove in five of the Boilermakers' seven runs on the night.
Keenan Taylor scored in all three innings in which Purdue put runs on the board. He connected for an RBI double to center field in the fifth inning, a frame in which the Boilermakers barreled up for a trio of two-baggers. But it was Taylor staying out of an inning-ending double play by beating the throw to first in the third inning that turned out to be one of the key plays of the night. Stevens followed with his opposite-field home run, which he elevated into the jet stream that was gusting out to right field for much of the night.
Luke Gaffney, Taylor and Spence were the Boilermakers with doubles in the three-run fifth inning that extended the lead to 7-1.
Spence delivered an RBI single in his first at-bat of the night, plating Taylor from second base after a sacrifice bunt from Stevens.
STREAKS EXTENDEDAnother #4faves from a series opening win for @PurdueBaseball tonight. pic.twitter.com/lUu2ApY97W
— Dave Wegiel Photo (@pinolaphoto) April 13, 2024
• Jo Stevens – 20-game on-base streak; 9-game hit streak; 13-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 5/18/23); 13-game on-base streak at home
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 13-game on-base streak; 16-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 4/29/23)
• Luke Gaffney – 12-game on-base streak; 10-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
• Connor Caskenette – 10-game on-base streak; 8-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
• Keenan Spence – 7-game on-base streak; 6-game hit streak in Big Ten play
• Couper Cornblum – 7-game on-base streak in Big Ten play; 87 consecutive games started (since start of 2023)
Avery Cook got the final out of the eighth inning, stranding the bases loaded with the potential tying run in the on-deck circle. The senior went on to work a 1-2-3 inning vs. the top of the MSU lineup, earning his first save since April 2021 during Purdue's last five-game win streak in Big Ten play. Cook also joined Carter Doorn and Aaron Suval as Boilermakers this season to inherit the bases loaded and not allow a run to score. All three instances have come during the current conference win streak.
Shortstop Camden Gasser and left fielder Brody Chrisman accounted for the top defensive plays of the night. Gasser opened the eighth inning by taking away a leadoff single. Chrisman made a diving catch to help Morales post a 1-2-3 inning vs. the 3-4-5 portion of MSU's lineup in the top of the fourth.
The Boilermakers have hit three sets of back-to-back home runs in a season for the first time since 2021. Prior to that year, Purdue had not achieved the feat since 2010. All three sets of back-to-back jacks this season have come in home wins.
Game 2 of the series is set for Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.
Yet another #4faves from a series opening win for @PurdueBaseball tonight. pic.twitter.com/CNc6Ziplhd
— Dave Wegiel Photo (@pinolaphoto) April 13, 2024