WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Baseball scored at least four runs in each of the first three innings to put 15 on the board early in a 17-1 rout of Milwaukee on Tuesday at Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers (10-5) scored their 17 runs on a season-high 17 hits. The 17 runs were Purdue’s most at Alexander since scoring 18 in an April 2024 win vs. East Tennessee State.
The Boilermakers batted around in each of the first three innings – scoring four in the first, six in the second and five in the third. Sam Flores (RBI single, walk, home run), CJ Richmond (RBI single, sac fly, single), Avery Moore (sac fly, walk, single), Dylan Drake (single, RBI single, HBP) and Jackson Bessette (RBI single, walk, two-run double) all had a productive plate appearance in all three frames.
Purdue’s pitching staff also had a strong day, surrendering just an unearned and no extra base hits. While pitching with the big lead, the Boilers pounded the strike zone and did not issue a free pass (walk or HBP) after the fourth inning.
The top defensive plays of the day both came in the fifth inning on the right side of the field. Richmond made a diving catch at first base to prevent a leadoff single and Ali Banks contributed a diving catch in right field two batters later.
Purdue’s base-hit approach produced many of the runs. Fifteen of the 17 hits – including the first eight – were singles. Both extra-base hits came in the third inning – a 420-foot leadoff home run to center field from Flores and a two-run from Bessette.
Flores finished the day 3-for-4 with his fourth home run of the season plus a walk and three runs scored. Bessette was 2-for-2 with two walks, three RBI and three runs scored. Drake (2-for-2, HBP, 2 R) also was not retired on the day before being lifted for a defensive replacement to begin the fourth inning. Eli Anderson had three RBI from the 9-hole in the lineup, highlighted by a two-run single to cap the scoring in the five-run third inning.
On the mound for Purdue, Austin Klug retired eight of 11 batters faced over 2 2/3 innings. Jacob Boland struck out the side in order in the top of the sixth, his second inning of work. Gavin Beuter pitched a 1-2-3 eighth inning.
Jimmy Dionne accounted for the Boilermakers’ final hit of the day. Dionne was the lone Boilermaker to hit safely in each of the first home games of the season despite starting only two of the four. Flores homered in three of the first four home dates.
Purdue is back in action Friday when it opens a three-game series at Maryland, making its first trip to College Park since April 2023. None of the current Boilermakers have played at Turtle Smith Stadium previously.
