UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – Logan Sutter hit his 10th home run of the season vs. a pitcher that had surrendered just one long ball on the season, but Penn State responded with 10 unanswered runs while scoring in five consecutive innings to take the series opener with Purdue Baseball 10-2 Friday.
The Nittany Lions (23-13, 11-8 Big Ten) improved to 9-1 in series openers this season behind staff ace Ryan DeSanto. Sutter connected for his Big Ten-leading 17th double as well as the two-run homer off DeSanto, who had conceded just nine extra-base hits in 44 1/3 innings entering the night.
The game was tied 2-2 through four innings before Penn State blew it open with consecutive crooked numbers, scoring three in the bottom of the fifth and four more the following frame.
Down 5-2 in the top of the sixth, consecutive hit batters to begin the inning led to the end of the night for DeSanto (7-1). But a strikeout and an inning-ending double play followed as the Boilermakers (23-14, 5-11 Big Ten) could not capitalize on the scoring opportunity.
Six of Penn State's 13 hits went for extra bases, including the first four. Purdue starter Carter Doorn struck out five and did not issue a walk over four innings. But PSU scored eight times against the Boilermaker bullpen. Freshman Joe Trenerry finally put a zero on the board again in the bottom of the eighth, working a 1-2-3 frame vs. PSU's 3-4-5 hitters. He struck out PSU's 2-3-4 hitters in order while retiring all four batters he faced.
Breck Nowik singled twice in his first collegiate start at second base. Camden Gasser reached safely in his first two plate appearances and was aboard when Sutter went deep in the top of the third.
The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.
The Nittany Lions (23-13, 11-8 Big Ten) improved to 9-1 in series openers this season behind staff ace Ryan DeSanto. Sutter connected for his Big Ten-leading 17th double as well as the two-run homer off DeSanto, who had conceded just nine extra-base hits in 44 1/3 innings entering the night.
The game was tied 2-2 through four innings before Penn State blew it open with consecutive crooked numbers, scoring three in the bottom of the fifth and four more the following frame.
Down 5-2 in the top of the sixth, consecutive hit batters to begin the inning led to the end of the night for DeSanto (7-1). But a strikeout and an inning-ending double play followed as the Boilermakers (23-14, 5-11 Big Ten) could not capitalize on the scoring opportunity.
Six of Penn State's 13 hits went for extra bases, including the first four. Purdue starter Carter Doorn struck out five and did not issue a walk over four innings. But PSU scored eight times against the Boilermaker bullpen. Freshman Joe Trenerry finally put a zero on the board again in the bottom of the eighth, working a 1-2-3 frame vs. PSU's 3-4-5 hitters. He struck out PSU's 2-3-4 hitters in order while retiring all four batters he faced.
Breck Nowik singled twice in his first collegiate start at second base. Camden Gasser reached safely in his first two plate appearances and was aboard when Sutter went deep in the top of the third.
The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.