WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Connor Caskenette collected a career-high seven RBI via a pair of bases-clearing hits, powering another offensive outburst for Purdue Baseball as the Boilermakers blasted Ball State 13-3 Tuesday at Alexander Field in a matchup of teams that had lost just once apiece in the month of April.
Purdue (24-13) won for the eighth time in the last nine games, posting a double-figure run total for the third game in a row and 14th time this season. The Boilermakers have racked up 48 runs over their last three games and scored 10-plus in three consecutive games twice this year. Ball State (23-14) arrived at Alexander Field having won 11 of its last 12 games.
Tuesday's win was also the 100th victory for Greg Goff as the head coach at Purdue.
Caskenette's grand slam in the seventh inning ended the game early via the 10-run rule. Purdue's cleanup hitter also connected for a three-run double in a seven-run third inning, posting the first seven-RBI game by a Boilermaker since Ted Snidanko in March 2015. The 426-foot grand slam was Caskenette's second slam of the season, marking the second year in a row a Boilermaker has hit two after Jake Jarvis did it as part of his 10-homer campaign in 2023.
Mike Bolton Jr., Gaffney and Caskenette all reached base safely four times, combining to score eight of the 13 runs. Bolton's two-run single punctuated Purdue's second seven-run inning in as many games. The leadoff man reached base safely in each of his first three plate appearances, giving him a streak of 10 consecutive on-base safely dating back to Sunday's win.
Cole Van Assen gave the Boilermakers another quality midweek outing, working a season-high five innings of two-run ball. The freshman did not issue a walk and both runs he allowed came on solo homers. Van Assen has surrendered no more than two runs in seven of his eight appearances this season, recording at least eight outs in all of them.
Jo Stevens also reached base safely four times, accounting for three of the 14 free passes (11 walks, 3 HBP) drawn by Purdue hitters. Stevens' RBI single in the third inning extended his career-long hit streak to 12 consecutive games, matching Camden Gasser for the longest on the team this season.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Jo Stevens – 23-game on-base streak; 12-game hit streak; 16-game on-base streak at home
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 16-game on-base streak; 8-game hit streak
• Luke Gaffney – 15-game on-base streak; 7-game hit streak
• Connor Caskenette – 13-game on-base streak
• Keenan Spence – 10-game on-base streak
• Couper Cornblum – 90 consecutive games started (since start of 2023)
Purdue continues its nine-game homestand this weekend with a three-game series vs. first-time visitor East Tennessee State. First pitch Friday is slated for 6 p.m. ET.
Purdue (24-13) won for the eighth time in the last nine games, posting a double-figure run total for the third game in a row and 14th time this season. The Boilermakers have racked up 48 runs over their last three games and scored 10-plus in three consecutive games twice this year. Ball State (23-14) arrived at Alexander Field having won 11 of its last 12 games.
Tuesday's win was also the 100th victory for Greg Goff as the head coach at Purdue.
Caskenette's grand slam in the seventh inning ended the game early via the 10-run rule. Purdue's cleanup hitter also connected for a three-run double in a seven-run third inning, posting the first seven-RBI game by a Boilermaker since Ted Snidanko in March 2015. The 426-foot grand slam was Caskenette's second slam of the season, marking the second year in a row a Boilermaker has hit two after Jake Jarvis did it as part of his 10-homer campaign in 2023.
Luke Gaffney and Caskenette both hit their eighth home runs of the season. As Purdue's 3-4 combination in the lineup, they have a combined 93 RBI while being the second (Gaffney) and third (Caskenette) fastest Boilermakers since 2001 to reach the 40-RBI mark.Winners of 8⃣ of the last 9⃣.
— Purdue Athletics (@PurdueSports) April 17, 2024
Won our last four by a combined score of 55-6.@PurdueBaseball is RED HOT. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/rpPiMjQf7Z
Mike Bolton Jr., Gaffney and Caskenette all reached base safely four times, combining to score eight of the 13 runs. Bolton's two-run single punctuated Purdue's second seven-run inning in as many games. The leadoff man reached base safely in each of his first three plate appearances, giving him a streak of 10 consecutive on-base safely dating back to Sunday's win.
Cole Van Assen gave the Boilermakers another quality midweek outing, working a season-high five innings of two-run ball. The freshman did not issue a walk and both runs he allowed came on solo homers. Van Assen has surrendered no more than two runs in seven of his eight appearances this season, recording at least eight outs in all of them.
Jo Stevens also reached base safely four times, accounting for three of the 14 free passes (11 walks, 3 HBP) drawn by Purdue hitters. Stevens' RBI single in the third inning extended his career-long hit streak to 12 consecutive games, matching Camden Gasser for the longest on the team this season.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Jo Stevens – 23-game on-base streak; 12-game hit streak; 16-game on-base streak at home
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 16-game on-base streak; 8-game hit streak
• Luke Gaffney – 15-game on-base streak; 7-game hit streak
• Connor Caskenette – 13-game on-base streak
• Keenan Spence – 10-game on-base streak
• Couper Cornblum – 90 consecutive games started (since start of 2023)
Caskenette and Stevens teamed up to cut down a base stealer at third base to end the first inning. With three of Ball State's six hits being solo homers, two to lead off an inning, Van Assen and reliever Avery Cook combined to face only five batters with a man on base over the game's seven innings. Van Assen worked a pair of 1-2-3 innings and Cook went through the Cardinals' 2-3-4 hitters in flawless fashion in the top of the sixth.Here is the second part to my #Favor8s from tonight's @PurdueBaseball victory over Ball State.#BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/D84JSLAHnA
— Top Row Pics (@TopRowPics) April 17, 2024
Purdue continues its nine-game homestand this weekend with a three-game series vs. first-time visitor East Tennessee State. First pitch Friday is slated for 6 p.m. ET.