WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Cam Thompson connected for a grand slam in his first career at-bat at Alexander Field, but the big swing came with two outs in the ninth inning and was not enough to save Purdue baseball in a 7-5 home-opening loss to Rutgers on Friday.
Harry Rutkowski limited the Boilermakers to just three hits and an unearned run over the first eight innings. The Scarlet Knights (7-5) opted to go to the bullpen after a one-out walk in the bottom of the ninth. Miles Simington and Ryan Howe both singled to extend the game, setting up the bases-loaded opportunity for Thompson. The redshirt-freshman had entered the game defensively at first base to begin the eighth inning. He connected for the slam into the left field bullpen.
Thompson joined Simington as active Boilermakers with a grand slam and hit Purdue's first slam at Alexander since Nick Dalesandro in April 2017. Thompson also delivered the Boilermakers' first hit of the season with the bases loaded. They entered the day 0-for-15 with the sacks packed.
Meanwhile, Rutgers freshman Ryan Lasko homered in each of his first two at-bats, hitting a solo shot in the first inning and two-run blast in the top of the third. That helped the visitors race out to a 4-0 lead before Purdue (2-10) finally got on the board.
Rutkowski (2-1) struck out just one of the 30 batters he faced, but the lefty still managed to record five 1-2-3 innings. He also received some elite defensive help. Center fielder Richie Schiekofer made a pair of diving catches to take away potential leadoff singles from Evan Albrecht and Skyler Hunter in the third and sixth innings, respectively. Justin Walker Jr. was also robbed of a base hit on a fine diving play by second baseman Grant Shulman for the second out of the bottom of the third.
Rutkowski has now stymied Purdue twice going back to April 2019, surrendering just one earned run over 16 1/3 innings. However, two years ago he struck out 12 over eight innings vs. the successful pitch-to-contact approach this year.
Purdue starter Trent Johnson (0-2) had not surrendered a run over 11 innings in his two previous career starts vs. Rutgers. Lasko proved to be Johnson's kryptonite this year. The freshman outfielder matched his season RBI total (3) with two big swings Friday.
Nick Alvarado worked four innings of one-run relief in his best outing as a Boilermaker. It was also the longest outing of the season by a Purdue reliever.
Ben Nisle and Simington were once again the Boilermakers' top performers offensively. Nisle tripled over the right fielder's head for his team-leading ninth extra-base hit, and third triple, of the season in the sixth inning. Rutkowski retired the next nine batters in a row until issuing another walk to Nisle in bottom of the ninth. Simington singled twice, driving in Tyler Powers with a base hit up the middle in the fourth inning.
Game 2 of the series is set for 2 p.m. Saturday.
FRIDAY NOTABLES
• Powers led off the fourth inning with his sixth hit in the last three games. He was 6-for-10 dating back to Saturday at that point. He has reached base safely in six straight games overall.
• Schiekofer's diving catch in the sixth inning helped keep Skyler Hunter off base in four at-bats. Hunter had reached base safely in 17 consecutive Big Ten games dating back to May 2019.
• Purdue played a Big Ten rival for its home opener for the first time since March 2013 (Ohio State), which was also the first games and weekend at Alexander Field.
Harry Rutkowski limited the Boilermakers to just three hits and an unearned run over the first eight innings. The Scarlet Knights (7-5) opted to go to the bullpen after a one-out walk in the bottom of the ninth. Miles Simington and Ryan Howe both singled to extend the game, setting up the bases-loaded opportunity for Thompson. The redshirt-freshman had entered the game defensively at first base to begin the eighth inning. He connected for the slam into the left field bullpen.
Thompson joined Simington as active Boilermakers with a grand slam and hit Purdue's first slam at Alexander since Nick Dalesandro in April 2017. Thompson also delivered the Boilermakers' first hit of the season with the bases loaded. They entered the day 0-for-15 with the sacks packed.
Meanwhile, Rutgers freshman Ryan Lasko homered in each of his first two at-bats, hitting a solo shot in the first inning and two-run blast in the top of the third. That helped the visitors race out to a 4-0 lead before Purdue (2-10) finally got on the board.
Rutkowski (2-1) struck out just one of the 30 batters he faced, but the lefty still managed to record five 1-2-3 innings. He also received some elite defensive help. Center fielder Richie Schiekofer made a pair of diving catches to take away potential leadoff singles from Evan Albrecht and Skyler Hunter in the third and sixth innings, respectively. Justin Walker Jr. was also robbed of a base hit on a fine diving play by second baseman Grant Shulman for the second out of the bottom of the third.
Rutkowski has now stymied Purdue twice going back to April 2019, surrendering just one earned run over 16 1/3 innings. However, two years ago he struck out 12 over eight innings vs. the successful pitch-to-contact approach this year.
Purdue starter Trent Johnson (0-2) had not surrendered a run over 11 innings in his two previous career starts vs. Rutgers. Lasko proved to be Johnson's kryptonite this year. The freshman outfielder matched his season RBI total (3) with two big swings Friday.
Nick Alvarado worked four innings of one-run relief in his best outing as a Boilermaker. It was also the longest outing of the season by a Purdue reliever.
Ben Nisle and Simington were once again the Boilermakers' top performers offensively. Nisle tripled over the right fielder's head for his team-leading ninth extra-base hit, and third triple, of the season in the sixth inning. Rutkowski retired the next nine batters in a row until issuing another walk to Nisle in bottom of the ninth. Simington singled twice, driving in Tyler Powers with a base hit up the middle in the fourth inning.
Game 2 of the series is set for 2 p.m. Saturday.
FRIDAY NOTABLES
• Powers led off the fourth inning with his sixth hit in the last three games. He was 6-for-10 dating back to Saturday at that point. He has reached base safely in six straight games overall.
• Schiekofer's diving catch in the sixth inning helped keep Skyler Hunter off base in four at-bats. Hunter had reached base safely in 17 consecutive Big Ten games dating back to May 2019.
• Purdue played a Big Ten rival for its home opener for the first time since March 2013 (Ohio State), which was also the first games and weekend at Alexander Field.
Here are another #4faves from the @PurdueBaseball game today. pic.twitter.com/MOH9ni25PT
— Dave Wegiel Photo (@pinolaphoto) March 26, 2021