HOLLY SPRINGS, N.C. – Sam Flores homered to open the game’s scoring in a five-run fourth inning and Jackson Bessette later connected for a three-run blast to power Purdue Baseball to a 9-4 victory vs. Marist on Friday in the opener of a four-game series.
Cole Van Assen pitched into the sixth inning and finished one out shy of an official quality start after a two-out error extended the frame. The Boilermakers’ Friday starter matched his career high with seven strikeouts.
Six Purdue players had multiple hits as the Boilermakers (5-3) pounded out a season-high 15. Trey Swiderski had two doubles by the fourth inning despite not starting the game. CJ Richmond singled, walked and scored twice to extend his season-opening hit streak to eight consecutive games.
Joe Trenerry retired three consecutive batters with the bases loaded in the ninth inning – the first two via strikeouts – to close out the win, earning his first save as a Boilermaker.
Van Assen also escaped a no-out, bases-loaded jam in the top of the fourth. He struck out the 6-hole hitter and then induced a comebacker for an inning-ending 1-2-3 double play.
Thomas Howard continued to impress as the first man out of the bullpen, working 2 1/3 innings of two-hit scoreless relief. He has surrendered just four hits in nine scoreless innings over his first four appearances as a Boilermaker.
Flores and Bessette both went deep to right field, hitting their first homers as Boilermakers. Flores connected for a two-out run after a leadoff double from Westin Boyle. Purdue sent nine men to the plate in the five-run fourth inning, its most productive frame of the season thus far. Flores and Richmond were aboard when Bessette hit his opposite-field shot with two outs in the seventh inning to blow the game open at 9-3.
The series continues Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
Flores, Bessette Homer in Friday Night Win
Flores homered as a part of a five-run fourth inning and Bessette later hit a three-run blast in Purdue's 9-4 win