ATLANTA -- Purdue baseball turned three double plays and battled No. 21 Georgia Tech throughout the day, but the Boilermakers could not pull even again after a home run in the sixth inning and lost their season opener 5-2 Friday afternoon.
Jack Picchiotti reached base safely in all four of his plate appearances while being in the opening day starting lineup for the fourth straight year. His two-out double in the second inning led to Purdue's first run. He also walked, was hit by a pitch and had a bunt single.
Kyle Johnson made a highlight-reel diving catch in right center field to take away a two-run double from Keenan Innis in the second inning.
The Boilermakers had the bases loaded with no outs in the sixth inning but could only come up with a single run to tie the game. Mike Kornacker put the ball in play after falling behind in the count 0-2, but his ground ball to second base turned into a 4-6-3 double play. The Yellow Jackets had scored their first run of the game on a 4-6-3 twin killing with runners on the corners in the bottom of the third.
Trevor Craport's long home run to left center field with one out in the sixth inning proved to be the decisive run the game. It was his third hit of the day. Craport and Connor Justus, Tech's No. 7 and 8 hitters, were a combined 5-for-6 with two RBI, two runs scored, a walk and sacrifice bunt.
Tanner Andrews and Tanner Schumacher teamed up for seven innings of three-run ball to give Purdue a chance to win. But Tech starting pitcher Brandon Gold limited the Boilermakers to just two hits and an unearned run while striking out a career-high eight over five innings. Burton Dulaney (1-0) limited the damage after Purdue loaded the bases in the sixth inning and went on to work three innings of two-hit relief.
Purdue was charged with four errors in the game, three coming at third base. With the bases loaded, two outs and Tech leading 3-2 in the eighth inning, Hayden Grant couldn't make the play on a pop up to third base and two unearned runs scored on the play. The Boilermakers were unable to bring the potential tying run to the plate in the top of the ninth.
Andrews retired the leadoff man in three of the four innings he started and induced the big double play he needed after giving up consecutive hits to begin the bottom of the third. The second run he allowed was in part a byproduct of the runner that scored reaching base on a routine ground ball to third base that went for an infield hit. In his first collegiate start, the sophomore surrendered two runs on seven hits over 3 2/3 innings.
Schumacher (0-1) was extended a bit in relief, but the only run he allowed over 3 1/3 innings came on Craport's home run. He stranded a pair of runners in two different innings, retiring Tech's No. 2, 4 and 5 hitters for the key outs in those sticky spots.
Shortstop Harry Shipley turned a pair of inning-ending 6-3 double plays to end the fifth and sixth innings.
Johnson's two-out single in the second inning allowed Picchiotti to score after Innis bobbled the ball in left field. Jacson McGowan singled and walked in his collegiate debut, joining Kyle Wood and Picchiotti as Boilermakers to reach base safely multiple times.
Purdue continues its season-opening weekend at the Atlanta Challenge with Saturday's game at Kennesaw State. The Owls dropped their opener 15-11 to VCU on Friday. First pitch is slated for 2 p.m.