PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Connor Caskenette connected for a three-run homer in the ninth inning as part of a five-RBI day, powering Purdue Baseball to an 8-6 series-clinching victory at Rutgers on Saturday.
The Boilermakers (19-12, 4-4 Big Ten) rallied back from deficits of 3-0, 5-3 and 6-5 while claiming their first series victory in Jersey in three trips to the East Coast.
Couper Cornblum and Luke Gaffney singled in front of Caskenette's team-leading seventh home run of the season. Purdue's catcher worked his way into a 3-1 count and crushed a belt-high fastball from Rutgers closer Ben Gorski over the left field wall for the game-changing home run.
Caskenette also connected for a two-out, two-run double in the third inning as Purdue tied the score at 3-3. That gapper to right center also came with Cornblum and Gaffney aboard. Caskenette has five extra-bases hits, including three home runs, and 10 RBI against RU (19-11, 1-4 Big Ten) the last two years as the Boilermakers have won four of five in the series.
As the 2-3-4 portion of the lineup Saturday, Cornblum (2-for-5, 2 R), Gaffney (3-for-5, RBI, 2 R) and Caskenette (3-for-5, 5 RBI, 2 R) were a combined 8-for-15. Gaffney posted his team-leading fourth three-hit game and 15th multi-hit effort total. Caskenette joined Gaffney as Boilermakers with a 5-RBI game this season.
Carter Doorn (2-0) retired all eight batters he faced to earn the victory in relief. The junior has retired 24 of 27 batters faced over his last two outings, earning the victory in both road wins. The efficient 1-2-3 ninth inning kept Purdue away from more end-of-game drama after Rutgers scored two in the ninth Friday to tie it.
The Boilermakers turned three ground ball double plays to give them 36 twin killings on the season, ranking among the top three nationally entering the weekend.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Jo Stevens – 17-game on-base streak; 11-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 5/18/23); 6-game hit streak in all games
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 14-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 4/29/23); 10-game on-base streak in all games
• Luke Gaffney – 9-game on-base streak; 8-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
• Connor Caskenette – 7-game on-base streak
• Couper Cornblum – 6-game on-base streak
Cornblum got robbed of a hit by the Rutgers second baseman with the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth inning. It turned out to be a long half inning after starting pitcher Zack Konstantinvosky had to leave the game due to injury with an 0-2 count on Keenan Spence to begin the frame. Jake Marshall was effective in long relief, giving the home team four innings of two-run ball.
After the Scarlet Knights reclaimed the lead on a two-run homer from Tony Santa Maria in the bottom of the fourth, Purdue quickly answered the following frame. Caskenette and Jo Stevens ignited the rally with consecutive singles. Spence hit a ball off the wall for an RBI double and Ty Gill followed with an RBI ground out.
Avery Cook was effective in relief again, retiring the first six batters he faced in the New York state native's return to the East Coast. He induced a 6-4-3 double play to erase an inherited runner and struck out a pair in a 1-2-3 sixth inning. An error helped Rutgers score the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh.
Sunday's series finale is slated for 1 p.m. ET. The Boilermakers will be looking to sweep a traditional three-game Big Ten series on the road for the first time since April 2018 at Maryland. They also swept Rutgers at home during a 13-game win streak in 2018.
The Boilermakers (19-12, 4-4 Big Ten) rallied back from deficits of 3-0, 5-3 and 6-5 while claiming their first series victory in Jersey in three trips to the East Coast.
Couper Cornblum and Luke Gaffney singled in front of Caskenette's team-leading seventh home run of the season. Purdue's catcher worked his way into a 3-1 count and crushed a belt-high fastball from Rutgers closer Ben Gorski over the left field wall for the game-changing home run.
Caskenette also connected for a two-out, two-run double in the third inning as Purdue tied the score at 3-3. That gapper to right center also came with Cornblum and Gaffney aboard. Caskenette has five extra-bases hits, including three home runs, and 10 RBI against RU (19-11, 1-4 Big Ten) the last two years as the Boilermakers have won four of five in the series.
As the 2-3-4 portion of the lineup Saturday, Cornblum (2-for-5, 2 R), Gaffney (3-for-5, RBI, 2 R) and Caskenette (3-for-5, 5 RBI, 2 R) were a combined 8-for-15. Gaffney posted his team-leading fourth three-hit game and 15th multi-hit effort total. Caskenette joined Gaffney as Boilermakers with a 5-RBI game this season.
Carter Doorn (2-0) retired all eight batters he faced to earn the victory in relief. The junior has retired 24 of 27 batters faced over his last two outings, earning the victory in both road wins. The efficient 1-2-3 ninth inning kept Purdue away from more end-of-game drama after Rutgers scored two in the ninth Friday to tie it.
The Boilermakers turned three ground ball double plays to give them 36 twin killings on the season, ranking among the top three nationally entering the weekend.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Jo Stevens – 17-game on-base streak; 11-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 5/18/23); 6-game hit streak in all games
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 14-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 4/29/23); 10-game on-base streak in all games
• Luke Gaffney – 9-game on-base streak; 8-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
• Connor Caskenette – 7-game on-base streak
• Couper Cornblum – 6-game on-base streak
Cornblum got robbed of a hit by the Rutgers second baseman with the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth inning. It turned out to be a long half inning after starting pitcher Zack Konstantinvosky had to leave the game due to injury with an 0-2 count on Keenan Spence to begin the frame. Jake Marshall was effective in long relief, giving the home team four innings of two-run ball.
After the Scarlet Knights reclaimed the lead on a two-run homer from Tony Santa Maria in the bottom of the fourth, Purdue quickly answered the following frame. Caskenette and Jo Stevens ignited the rally with consecutive singles. Spence hit a ball off the wall for an RBI double and Ty Gill followed with an RBI ground out.
Avery Cook was effective in relief again, retiring the first six batters he faced in the New York state native's return to the East Coast. He induced a 6-4-3 double play to erase an inherited runner and struck out a pair in a 1-2-3 sixth inning. An error helped Rutgers score the go-ahead run on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the seventh.
Sunday's series finale is slated for 1 p.m. ET. The Boilermakers will be looking to sweep a traditional three-game Big Ten series on the road for the first time since April 2018 at Maryland. They also swept Rutgers at home during a 13-game win streak in 2018.