WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Luke Gaffney's grand slam headlined Purdue Baseball's season-high four home runs as the Boilermakers scored in all six innings in which they batted in an 18-7 run-rule victory vs. East Tennessee State on Saturday at Alexander Field.
Purdue (25-14) scored at least 13 runs for the fourth time in the last five games, racking up 73 total runs during the offensive outburst. The Boilermakers scored at least four runs in three different innings Saturday, with Gaffney's slam powering a four-run bottom of the fourth.
Gaffney homered for the fourth game in a row, registering 13 RBI during his power surge. The opposite-field grand slam into the visitors' bullpen gave Gaffney 54 RBI on the season, eclipsing Purdue's freshman record (53) that had stood since 2010. He broke future big leaguer Kevin Plawecki's benchmark in just 38 games played.
Mike Bolton Jr. opened the game with the Boilermakers' first leadoff homer in the history of Alexander Field. He later capped the scoring with a three-run triple, finishing the night with a career-high five RBI.
Keenan Taylor and Logan Sutter both homered for the second game in a row. Sutter finished the night 3-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored. Sutter and Thomas Green connected for a double and two-run triple, both to center field, on consecutive pitches in the second inning as Purdue took the lead for good.
Camden Gasser scored four times from the 9-hole in the lineup even though he was not credited with an at-bat in the game. The Big Ten leader in walks drew three bases on bases for the fifth time this season – doing so in three consecutive innings Saturday – and reached safely while successfully executing a squeeze bunt.
Couper Cornblum's bunt single in front of Gaffney's slam was the 200th hit of Cornblum's college career.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Jo Stevens – 25-game on-base streak; 18-game on-base streak at home
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 18-game on-base streak; 11-game on-base streak at home
• Luke Gaffney – 17-game on-base streak; 9-game hit streak; 10-game on-base streak at home; 6-game run scored streak; 5-game RBI streak; 4-game home run streak
• Logan Sutter – 10-game on-base streak
• Camden Gasser – 5 consecutive games with a walk and run scored
• Couper Cornblum – 92 consecutive games started (since start of 2023); 5-game run scored streak
CJ Backer retired six of the seven batters he faced to close out the victory, working in relief of starter Luke Wagner. The Purdue bullpen has accounted for 7 2/3 innings of three-hit scoreless relief in the series.
Gaffney is just the second freshman in program history with 10 home runs. Five of his last six homers have plated at least three runs. He hit the Boilermakers' second grand slam of the week and third of the season Saturday. Gaffney made his first collegiate start at catcher in the win.
Bolton hit the first game-opening home run by a Boilermaker since Evan Warden in May 2017. Bolton's 11th career triple moved him info fifth place in program history.
Purdue hit four home runs in a game for the first time since connecting for five in game No. 4 of the 2023 campaign. The Boilermakers were victorious via the 10-run rule after seven innings for the fifth time this season.
The rubber game of the series is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.
Purdue (25-14) scored at least 13 runs for the fourth time in the last five games, racking up 73 total runs during the offensive outburst. The Boilermakers scored at least four runs in three different innings Saturday, with Gaffney's slam powering a four-run bottom of the fourth.
Gaffney homered for the fourth game in a row, registering 13 RBI during his power surge. The opposite-field grand slam into the visitors' bullpen gave Gaffney 54 RBI on the season, eclipsing Purdue's freshman record (53) that had stood since 2010. He broke future big leaguer Kevin Plawecki's benchmark in just 38 games played.
Mike Bolton Jr. opened the game with the Boilermakers' first leadoff homer in the history of Alexander Field. He later capped the scoring with a three-run triple, finishing the night with a career-high five RBI.
Keenan Taylor and Logan Sutter both homered for the second game in a row. Sutter finished the night 3-for-3 with three RBI and three runs scored. Sutter and Thomas Green connected for a double and two-run triple, both to center field, on consecutive pitches in the second inning as Purdue took the lead for good.
Camden Gasser scored four times from the 9-hole in the lineup even though he was not credited with an at-bat in the game. The Big Ten leader in walks drew three bases on bases for the fifth time this season – doing so in three consecutive innings Saturday – and reached safely while successfully executing a squeeze bunt.
Couper Cornblum's bunt single in front of Gaffney's slam was the 200th hit of Cornblum's college career.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Jo Stevens – 25-game on-base streak; 18-game on-base streak at home
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 18-game on-base streak; 11-game on-base streak at home
• Luke Gaffney – 17-game on-base streak; 9-game hit streak; 10-game on-base streak at home; 6-game run scored streak; 5-game RBI streak; 4-game home run streak
• Logan Sutter – 10-game on-base streak
• Camden Gasser – 5 consecutive games with a walk and run scored
• Couper Cornblum – 92 consecutive games started (since start of 2023); 5-game run scored streak
CJ Backer retired six of the seven batters he faced to close out the victory, working in relief of starter Luke Wagner. The Purdue bullpen has accounted for 7 2/3 innings of three-hit scoreless relief in the series.
Gaffney is just the second freshman in program history with 10 home runs. Five of his last six homers have plated at least three runs. He hit the Boilermakers' second grand slam of the week and third of the season Saturday. Gaffney made his first collegiate start at catcher in the win.
Bolton hit the first game-opening home run by a Boilermaker since Evan Warden in May 2017. Bolton's 11th career triple moved him info fifth place in program history.
Purdue hit four home runs in a game for the first time since connecting for five in game No. 4 of the 2023 campaign. The Boilermakers were victorious via the 10-run rule after seven innings for the fifth time this season.
The rubber game of the series is set for Sunday at 1 p.m. ET.