Manias Blasts Off Twice as Boilers Score a Dozen in Win

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Aaron Manias homered twice as one of six Boilermakers with multiple hits, leading the way as Purdue Baseball scored at least eight runs for the sixth consecutive game in a 12-7 victory vs. Penn State on Friday at Alexander Field.

The Boilermakers (14-6, 4-3 Big Ten) roared in front with a five-run third inning and won for the fifth time in their last six games.

Manias posted Purdue’s first multi-homer game of the season and his first as a Boilermaker, punctuating the five-run third inning with a two-run blast to right center. He went deep again for another 400-foot shot in the bottom of the eighth after PSU (5-14, 1-3 Big Ten) had cut the Boilers’ lead to 11-7. The senior finished the day 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored.

Dylan Drake connected for a pair of opposite-field extra-base hits to left center – a double in the fourth inning and RBI triple in the seventh. Eli Anderson (2-for-5, RBI, 2 R), Sam Flores (2-for-5, 2B, RBI, R), CJ Richmond (2-for-5, RBI) and Brandon Rogers (2-for-4, RBI, R) joined Drake and Manias with multiple hits.

STREAKS EXTENDED
• Brandon Rogers: 14-game on-base; 12-game on base in Big Ten play (Since April 27, 2025); 9-game on-base at home (since May 3, 2025); scored a run in 7 straight games
• Aaron Manias: 11-game on-base; 7-game on-base in Big Ten play; 6-game on-base at home
• Westin Boyle: 7-game on-base; 5-game on-base in Big Ten play; scored a run in 6 straight games
• Sam Flores: 7-game on-base; 5-game on-base in Big Ten play
• Dylan Drake: 6-game hit; scored a run in 6 straight games
• Ali Banks: 5-game hit in Big Ten play
• Jackson Bessette: 5-game on-base at home
• Purdue has hit a home run in 7 consecutive games
• Purdue has scored at least 8 runs in 6 consecutive games

The Boilermakers turned a season-high three double plays, all by Westin Boyle and Dylan Drake on the middle infield. Thomas Howard rolled up a double play in both of his innings of relief. Jacob Boland also induced a 6-4-3 twin killing to erase an inherited runner in the top of the ninth. Richmond made an excellent pick at first base on the second of the three double plays.

Cole Van Assen (2-1) worked five innings of two-run ball, beginning his outing with three straight zeros while Purdue was zoning in PSU starter Colin Fitzgerald, who retired seven straight to begin the game.

A one-out double steal by Westin Boyle and Brandon Rogers helped ignite the five-run rally in the bottom of the third. Ali Banks and Anderson followed with consecutive RBI singles and Manias went deep with two down in the frame. Penn State also committed two of its four errors during the extended frame.

Flores, Manias and Richmond teamed up for three consecutive hits after an inning-opening error in the bottom of the fifth. When the dust had cleared, Purdue was up 9-2.

The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. ET.