PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Jordan Morales conceded just three hits over seven shutout innings and Aaron Suval induced a game-saving double play with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth, starring on the mound in Purdue Baseball's 5-3 victory in 10 innings Friday at Rutgers.
The Boilermakers (18-12, 3-4 Big Ten) scored twice in the top of the 10th despite putting the ball in play just twice and not hitting the ball out of the infield until an inning-ending fly out. They won an extra-innings game on the road in Big Ten play for the first time since April 2018 at Maryland.
In his return to the East Coast, Morales (Souderton, Pa.) rolled through a trio of 1-2-3 innings and struck out five in his finest outing as a Boilermaker, limiting the Big Ten's league leader in batting average to five base runners. The lefty retired 11 in a row early in the game and later the final six batters he faced.
But it was Suval that prevented Purdue from suffering a devastating defeat in walk-off fashion for the second weekend in a row. Rutgers' first four batters reached base safely to begin the ninth inning and the home team had the winning run at third base with one out when the Boilermakers brought Suval into the game.
Nine-hole hitter Cameron Love had homered to lead off the previous inning and Purdue opted to intentionally walk him to load the bases. It brought RU's top power hitter, Tony Santa Maria, to the plate. Suval won the battle, inducing a ground ball to second base that Thomas Green and Camden Gasser turned into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play. It was the 33rd double play turned by the Boilermakers this season as they continue to rank among the top three nationally.
Purdue won the game with nine free passes (8 walks, 1 HBP) and six hits (all singles). It was the program's first game without an extra-base hit this season and its first victory without an XBH since a Friday win at Minnesota nearly one year ago to the day (April 7, 2023).
After Suval's heroics helped swing the momentum back to the visitors, Rutgers' bullpen imploded with four walks and a run-scoring hit by pitch in the top of the 10th. Couper Cornblum ignited the rally with his third walk of the night and scored what proved to be the game-winning run. Luke Gaffney and Connor Caskenette also drew walks to load the bases. Jo Stevens was plunked on a 1-2 pitch to force home the go-ahead run. Logan Sutter worked another walk to force home the second run, accounting for the final margin.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Jo Stevens – 16-game on-base streak; 10-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 5/18/23)
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 13-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 4/29/23); 9-game on-base streak in all games
• Luke Gaffney – 8-game on-base streak; 7-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
Mike Bolton Jr. singled twice, scored the first run of the night and delivered a crucial insurance run with a two-out RBI hit in the top of the ninth. His speed generated the game's first run. He connected for a leadoff single in the top of the sixth, took second when RU's first baseman failed to catch a pickoff throw, moved into third on a ground out to shortstop and was safe at the plate on a head-first dive as Purdue used the contact play to steal a run on a ground ball to second base with the Scarlet Knights' infield drawn in. Bolton's RBI single plated pinch runner Corbin Malott in the ninth inning after a leadoff walk to Keenan Taylor set the stage.
Rutgers (19-10, 1-3 Big Ten) had its first four batters of the bottom of the ninth reach base safely and the situation turned extremely dire when closer Jackson Dannelley threw the ball away down the right field line after fielding a sacrifice bunt. RJ Johnson Jr. followed with a game-tying single. But Suval induced his fourth ground ball double play of the season to extend the game into the 10th.
Suval (3-0) should have been credited with stranding three inherited runners, but had to settle for solely the win after Purdue opted to not issue the intentional walk to Love until after making the pitching change. In Sunday's win at Ohio State, Carter Doorn became the first Boilermaker this season to inherit the bases loaded and strand all three runners. Suval's escape act Friday was equally thrilling for the visitors.
The series continues Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.
The Boilermakers (18-12, 3-4 Big Ten) scored twice in the top of the 10th despite putting the ball in play just twice and not hitting the ball out of the infield until an inning-ending fly out. They won an extra-innings game on the road in Big Ten play for the first time since April 2018 at Maryland.
In his return to the East Coast, Morales (Souderton, Pa.) rolled through a trio of 1-2-3 innings and struck out five in his finest outing as a Boilermaker, limiting the Big Ten's league leader in batting average to five base runners. The lefty retired 11 in a row early in the game and later the final six batters he faced.
But it was Suval that prevented Purdue from suffering a devastating defeat in walk-off fashion for the second weekend in a row. Rutgers' first four batters reached base safely to begin the ninth inning and the home team had the winning run at third base with one out when the Boilermakers brought Suval into the game.
Nine-hole hitter Cameron Love had homered to lead off the previous inning and Purdue opted to intentionally walk him to load the bases. It brought RU's top power hitter, Tony Santa Maria, to the plate. Suval won the battle, inducing a ground ball to second base that Thomas Green and Camden Gasser turned into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play. It was the 33rd double play turned by the Boilermakers this season as they continue to rank among the top three nationally.
Purdue won the game with nine free passes (8 walks, 1 HBP) and six hits (all singles). It was the program's first game without an extra-base hit this season and its first victory without an XBH since a Friday win at Minnesota nearly one year ago to the day (April 7, 2023).
After Suval's heroics helped swing the momentum back to the visitors, Rutgers' bullpen imploded with four walks and a run-scoring hit by pitch in the top of the 10th. Couper Cornblum ignited the rally with his third walk of the night and scored what proved to be the game-winning run. Luke Gaffney and Connor Caskenette also drew walks to load the bases. Jo Stevens was plunked on a 1-2 pitch to force home the go-ahead run. Logan Sutter worked another walk to force home the second run, accounting for the final margin.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Jo Stevens – 16-game on-base streak; 10-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 5/18/23)
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 13-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 4/29/23); 9-game on-base streak in all games
• Luke Gaffney – 8-game on-base streak; 7-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
Mike Bolton Jr. singled twice, scored the first run of the night and delivered a crucial insurance run with a two-out RBI hit in the top of the ninth. His speed generated the game's first run. He connected for a leadoff single in the top of the sixth, took second when RU's first baseman failed to catch a pickoff throw, moved into third on a ground out to shortstop and was safe at the plate on a head-first dive as Purdue used the contact play to steal a run on a ground ball to second base with the Scarlet Knights' infield drawn in. Bolton's RBI single plated pinch runner Corbin Malott in the ninth inning after a leadoff walk to Keenan Taylor set the stage.
Rutgers (19-10, 1-3 Big Ten) had its first four batters of the bottom of the ninth reach base safely and the situation turned extremely dire when closer Jackson Dannelley threw the ball away down the right field line after fielding a sacrifice bunt. RJ Johnson Jr. followed with a game-tying single. But Suval induced his fourth ground ball double play of the season to extend the game into the 10th.
Suval (3-0) should have been credited with stranding three inherited runners, but had to settle for solely the win after Purdue opted to not issue the intentional walk to Love until after making the pitching change. In Sunday's win at Ohio State, Carter Doorn became the first Boilermaker this season to inherit the bases loaded and strand all three runners. Suval's escape act Friday was equally thrilling for the visitors.
The series continues Saturday at 3 p.m. ET.