ROSEMONT, Ill. – Connor Caskenette was the model of consistency during Purdue Baseball's 4-0 week to close out April, earning Big Ten Player of the Week honors after hitting safely, driving in a run and scoring a run in all four games.
Caskenette was 7-for-15 with three home runs, 11 RBI and eight runs scored while catching 33 of the 36 innings in which the Boilermakers were in the field. He did not strikeout while reaching base safely in 11 of his 20 plate appearances. Sunday, he homered twice while posting his second seven-RBI game in a span of 13 days.
The senior is the first Boilermaker since Nick Dalesandro in April 2018 to be named the Big Ten Player of Week after a conference weekend. Paul Toetz won the award in March of last season after a four-homer weekend against Akron.
Caskenette shared Player of the Week honors with Ohio State's Hunter Rosson, who had three home runs and 12 RBI over three games.
With a run-scoring hit in all four games, Caskenette helped Purdue outscore the opposition 40-19 for the week, including a decisive 20-2 total over the first three innings. In Big Ten play, he's currently riding an eight-game hit streak and 13-game on-base streak.
MORE CASK NOTABLES
• His solo home run Saturday was the fourth of Purdue's six long balls in the win at Northwestern, tying a program record. It also accounted for his 50th RBI of the season, making him the second fastest Boilermaker since 2001 to reach the benchmark.
• Joined John Hunter as the only players in program history to record seven-plus RBI in a game twice in his career. Caskenette is the first to do it twice in the same season.
• Became the first Boilermaker since Dan Black in 2009 with five or more RBI in three different games.
• Teamed up with Jo Stevens to give the Boilermakers an individual multi-homer effort in consecutive games. Teammates had not accomplished that feat for Purdue since March 2016.
• Tied Luke Gaffney for the team lead with 11 home runs, giving the Boilermakers two players with a double-figure total for the second year in a row.
• Delivered an RBI single in the third inning of Friday's win at Wrigley Field, the third of three consecutive two-out hits as Purdue opened up a 3-0 lead.
• The opposition did not attempt a stolen base against him for the week.
• Purdue pitchers were only charged with two wild pitches in the 33 innings he was behind the plate. There were also no passed balls.
Caskenette powered Purdue's offense Sunday, moving up into the 3-hole in the lineup due to the absence of five-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week Luke Gaffney. The first hree hitters in the lineup keyed Sunday's win. Mike Bolton Jr. (3-for-3, 2B, BB, 4 R) and Camden Gasser (2-for-2, 2 BB, RBI, 2 R) teamed with Caskenette (3-for-5, 2 HR, 7 RBI) for a combined 8-for-10 day while scoring nine of the 10 runs. Bolton reached base safely to begin a game in all four games as the Boilers scored in the first inning in every game. Gasser reached base safely 10 times in the sweep of Northwestern, posting a .700 on-base percentage for the second weekend in a row.
Winners of 10 in a row in Big Ten play and 13 of 16 overall since March 31, Caskenette and the Boilermakers are at home this week for in-state games vs. DePauw (May 1) and Indiana (May 3-5). First pitch Wednesday vs. DePauw is slated for 6 p.m. ET as the final $3 midweek matchup of the season at Alexander Field.
Caskenette was 7-for-15 with three home runs, 11 RBI and eight runs scored while catching 33 of the 36 innings in which the Boilermakers were in the field. He did not strikeout while reaching base safely in 11 of his 20 plate appearances. Sunday, he homered twice while posting his second seven-RBI game in a span of 13 days.
The senior is the first Boilermaker since Nick Dalesandro in April 2018 to be named the Big Ten Player of Week after a conference weekend. Paul Toetz won the award in March of last season after a four-homer weekend against Akron.
Caskenette shared Player of the Week honors with Ohio State's Hunter Rosson, who had three home runs and 12 RBI over three games.
With a run-scoring hit in all four games, Caskenette helped Purdue outscore the opposition 40-19 for the week, including a decisive 20-2 total over the first three innings. In Big Ten play, he's currently riding an eight-game hit streak and 13-game on-base streak.
MORE CASK NOTABLES
• His solo home run Saturday was the fourth of Purdue's six long balls in the win at Northwestern, tying a program record. It also accounted for his 50th RBI of the season, making him the second fastest Boilermaker since 2001 to reach the benchmark.
• Joined John Hunter as the only players in program history to record seven-plus RBI in a game twice in his career. Caskenette is the first to do it twice in the same season.
• Became the first Boilermaker since Dan Black in 2009 with five or more RBI in three different games.
• Teamed up with Jo Stevens to give the Boilermakers an individual multi-homer effort in consecutive games. Teammates had not accomplished that feat for Purdue since March 2016.
• Tied Luke Gaffney for the team lead with 11 home runs, giving the Boilermakers two players with a double-figure total for the second year in a row.
• Delivered an RBI single in the third inning of Friday's win at Wrigley Field, the third of three consecutive two-out hits as Purdue opened up a 3-0 lead.
• The opposition did not attempt a stolen base against him for the week.
• Purdue pitchers were only charged with two wild pitches in the 33 innings he was behind the plate. There were also no passed balls.
Caskenette powered Purdue's offense Sunday, moving up into the 3-hole in the lineup due to the absence of five-time Big Ten Freshman of the Week Luke Gaffney. The first hree hitters in the lineup keyed Sunday's win. Mike Bolton Jr. (3-for-3, 2B, BB, 4 R) and Camden Gasser (2-for-2, 2 BB, RBI, 2 R) teamed with Caskenette (3-for-5, 2 HR, 7 RBI) for a combined 8-for-10 day while scoring nine of the 10 runs. Bolton reached base safely to begin a game in all four games as the Boilers scored in the first inning in every game. Gasser reached base safely 10 times in the sweep of Northwestern, posting a .700 on-base percentage for the second weekend in a row.
Winners of 10 in a row in Big Ten play and 13 of 16 overall since March 31, Caskenette and the Boilermakers are at home this week for in-state games vs. DePauw (May 1) and Indiana (May 3-5). First pitch Wednesday vs. DePauw is slated for 6 p.m. ET as the final $3 midweek matchup of the season at Alexander Field.