CINCINNATI – Avery Moore’s first-inning grand slam headlined Purdue Baseball’s doubleheader split at Cincinnati on Saturday in fall exhibition action between teams from the Big Ten and Big 12 Conferences at the UC Baseball Stadium.
The teams played 15 total innings as part of a doubleheader that featured a pair of 7 ½-inning contests. Purdue was victorious in game 1, 11-9, and the home side took the nightcap in comeback fashion 11-5. Cincinnati pitchers, at the Bearcats’ request, threw 16 frames while Purdue pitchers were on the mound in 14.
With two outs in the first inning, Moore connected for a 400-foot grand slam to left center. Newcomer Dylan Drake hit a solo shot to right field the following frame as the Boilermakers raced out to an early 5-0 lead.
Cole Van Assen faced the minimum over two shutout innings as Purdue’s first pitcher of the day. The only hit he surrendered was erased on a caught stealing by his battery mate Jackson Bessette.
Newcomers Zach Erdman (LHP), Jarvis Evans (LHP) and Jake Kramer (RHP) also took the mound in game 1. Returnee Austin Klug (RHP) posted a zero in the bottom of the seventh as the final Boilermaker to take the mound for the first half of the day.
In his return to his native Southwestern Ohio, senior Sergio DeCello connected for a two-run homer to right field in the nightcap.
Freshman Westin Boyle played all 15 innings defensively at shortstop, headlining a plethora of newcomers that made their debuts for the Gold and Black. Fellow true freshmen Kaden Frei (2B), Tro Fellings (LHP) and Noah Filer (RHP) all saw action in the nightcap, as did redshirt freshmen Charlie Vercruysse (3B) and Thomas Lynch (C). They were joined by newcomers Ali Banks (UTL), Quincy Malbrough (OF), Jimmy Dionne (1B) and pitchers Thomas Howard (RHP), Jackson Greer (RHP), Graham Kollen (RHP) and Trevor Kester-Johnson (LHP).
In the nightcap, the Boilermakers led 5-4 after five complete innings before surrendering runs late. Returnees Nick Kolze (RHP) and Gavin Beuter (RHP) effectively stymied UC hitters in their outings over the second half of the day.
The Boilermakers continue fall ball action with open scrimmages on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays at Alexander Field. They host Dayton on Saturday, Oct. 11 for their second and final fall exhibition game, which is set to feature 14 innings regardless of score. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. and admission is free.