PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Jonathan Blackwell surrendered just three hits over a season-high six innings of two-run ball, leading the way as Purdue Baseball led wire-to-wire in a 5-3 victory at Rutgers on Sunday that completed a three-game series sweep.
The Boilermakers (20-12, 5-4 Big Ten) swept a Big Ten series on the road for the first time since April 2018 at Maryland. They also became the first visiting team to sweep a three-game Big Ten series in Piscataway since Maryland in April 2017.
Aaron Suval backed up Blackwell with a nine-out save, closing out a victory for the second time on the weekend. Suval worked 4 2/3 innings of one-run relief in the series.
Blackwell (2-2) induced nine ground ball outs and retired 10 consecutive batters from the final out of the bottom of the third through the sixth inning. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first inning thanks to a 6-3 double play turned by shortstop Camden Gasser. For the weekend, Purdue induced 38 ground ball outs (of 84 total outs) and turned five double plays.
The Boilermakers raced out to a fast start as the first four batters of the game reached base safely. After Mike Bolton Jr. and Couper Cornblum walked on a combined nine pitches, Luke Gaffney and Connor Caskenette delivered consecutive RBI singles to make it 2-0.
Purdue scored twice again in the fourth inning on a two-run double off the bat of Keenan Spence, which snuck under the glove of the RU third baseman. Jo Stevens and Thomas Green scored on the play as Spence joined Logan Sutter and Gaffney with 10 doubles this season.
Bolton drove in a key insurance run with a two-out RBI hit in the ninth inning for the second time in the series. Sunday, he barreled up for a double over the center fielder's head, plating Gasser to account for the final margin.
Defensively at third base, Stevens made a leaping catch on a line drive for the second out of the bottom of the ninth. The liner had the potential to become a double down the left field line and would have given Rutgers (19-12, 1-5 Big Ten) runners second and third with one out (at minimum). Instead, the game ended moments later on a fly ball to left field. Gasser (11) and Stevens (8) combined for 19 defensive assists on the left side of the infield. Green had nine more while seeing action at both second base and shortstop.
Bolton, Spence and Stevens each hit safely in all three games of the series. Spence drove in a run in all three games and Gaffney scored a run in all three wins.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Jo Stevens – 18-game on-base streak; 12-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 5/18/23); 7-game hit streak in all games
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 15-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 4/29/23); 11-game on-base streak in all games
• Luke Gaffney – 10-game on-base streak; 9-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
• Connor Caskenette – 8-game on-base streak
• Couper Cornblum – 7-game on-base streak
Purdue has won four straight games on the road in Big Ten play for the first time since opening Big Ten play 4-0 in 2018. The 3-0 weekend in New Jersey was the Boilermakers' second series sweep of the season but the program's first in a three-game series since March 2022 vs. Longwood in Holly Springs, N.C.
Purdue opens a nine-game homestand Tuesday with a midweek rematch vs. Indiana State. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. ET at Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers (20-12, 5-4 Big Ten) swept a Big Ten series on the road for the first time since April 2018 at Maryland. They also became the first visiting team to sweep a three-game Big Ten series in Piscataway since Maryland in April 2017.
Aaron Suval backed up Blackwell with a nine-out save, closing out a victory for the second time on the weekend. Suval worked 4 2/3 innings of one-run relief in the series.
Blackwell (2-2) induced nine ground ball outs and retired 10 consecutive batters from the final out of the bottom of the third through the sixth inning. He escaped a bases-loaded jam in the first inning thanks to a 6-3 double play turned by shortstop Camden Gasser. For the weekend, Purdue induced 38 ground ball outs (of 84 total outs) and turned five double plays.
The Boilermakers raced out to a fast start as the first four batters of the game reached base safely. After Mike Bolton Jr. and Couper Cornblum walked on a combined nine pitches, Luke Gaffney and Connor Caskenette delivered consecutive RBI singles to make it 2-0.
Purdue scored twice again in the fourth inning on a two-run double off the bat of Keenan Spence, which snuck under the glove of the RU third baseman. Jo Stevens and Thomas Green scored on the play as Spence joined Logan Sutter and Gaffney with 10 doubles this season.
Bolton drove in a key insurance run with a two-out RBI hit in the ninth inning for the second time in the series. Sunday, he barreled up for a double over the center fielder's head, plating Gasser to account for the final margin.
Defensively at third base, Stevens made a leaping catch on a line drive for the second out of the bottom of the ninth. The liner had the potential to become a double down the left field line and would have given Rutgers (19-12, 1-5 Big Ten) runners second and third with one out (at minimum). Instead, the game ended moments later on a fly ball to left field. Gasser (11) and Stevens (8) combined for 19 defensive assists on the left side of the infield. Green had nine more while seeing action at both second base and shortstop.
Bolton, Spence and Stevens each hit safely in all three games of the series. Spence drove in a run in all three games and Gaffney scored a run in all three wins.
STREAKS EXTENDED
• Jo Stevens – 18-game on-base streak; 12-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 5/18/23); 7-game hit streak in all games
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 15-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 4/29/23); 11-game on-base streak in all games
• Luke Gaffney – 10-game on-base streak; 9-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
• Connor Caskenette – 8-game on-base streak
• Couper Cornblum – 7-game on-base streak
Purdue has won four straight games on the road in Big Ten play for the first time since opening Big Ten play 4-0 in 2018. The 3-0 weekend in New Jersey was the Boilermakers' second series sweep of the season but the program's first in a three-game series since March 2022 vs. Longwood in Holly Springs, N.C.
Purdue opens a nine-game homestand Tuesday with a midweek rematch vs. Indiana State. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. ET at Alexander Field.