ROSEMONT, Ill. – Purdue baseball's Troy Wansing impressed over his first two starts at Alexander Field, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors after racking up 10 strikeouts over 9 1/3 innings while helping the Boilermakers win both games.
The lefty from Kansas City surrendered just one earned run over his 9 1/3 innings, working five innings of two-hit ball Tuesday vs. Dayton and striking out seven over 4 1/3 innings Sunday vs. Illinois State. For the week he had 10 Ks vs. seven hits allowed.
Wansing was effective in posting a quick zero after his teammates posted a big inning offensively. Tuesday vs. Dayton, Purdue sent 12 men to the plate while scoring eight times in the bottom of the fourth inning, opening up a 10-1 lead. In the top of the fifth, the freshman registered a 1-2-3 inning, his second of the day. In the series finale with Illinois State, the Boilermakers batted around in the bottom of the third while scoring four times to take a 4-1 lead. Wansing came out in the top of the fourth and struck out a pair in a dominant 1-2-3 frame.
Purdue's last Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree was relief pitcher Bo Hofstra in February 2018. Nick Dalesandro won Big Ten Player of the Week on the final day of April that season after a 5-0 week at Alexander Field. It had stood as the program's last weekly honor from the conference office until Wansing was recognized Wednesday.
Wansing is slated to start again Sunday for the finale of the Ohio State series this weekend at Alexander, which marks the beginning of Big Ten play. Purdue's 17-1 record represents its best mark entering conference play in the modern era of the program. Friday's series opener is set for 4 p.m. ET.
The lefty from Kansas City surrendered just one earned run over his 9 1/3 innings, working five innings of two-hit ball Tuesday vs. Dayton and striking out seven over 4 1/3 innings Sunday vs. Illinois State. For the week he had 10 Ks vs. seven hits allowed.
Wansing was effective in posting a quick zero after his teammates posted a big inning offensively. Tuesday vs. Dayton, Purdue sent 12 men to the plate while scoring eight times in the bottom of the fourth inning, opening up a 10-1 lead. In the top of the fifth, the freshman registered a 1-2-3 inning, his second of the day. In the series finale with Illinois State, the Boilermakers batted around in the bottom of the third while scoring four times to take a 4-1 lead. Wansing came out in the top of the fourth and struck out a pair in a dominant 1-2-3 frame.
Purdue's last Big Ten Freshman of the Week honoree was relief pitcher Bo Hofstra in February 2018. Nick Dalesandro won Big Ten Player of the Week on the final day of April that season after a 5-0 week at Alexander Field. It had stood as the program's last weekly honor from the conference office until Wansing was recognized Wednesday.
Wansing is slated to start again Sunday for the finale of the Ohio State series this weekend at Alexander, which marks the beginning of Big Ten play. Purdue's 17-1 record represents its best mark entering conference play in the modern era of the program. Friday's series opener is set for 4 p.m. ET.