Dionne, Flores Homer but Purdue's Rally Comes Up a Run Short

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Jimmy Dionne connected for a pinch-hit three-run homer in his first at-bat at Alexander Field and Sam Flores hit a two-run blast in the ninth inning but Purdue Baseball's rally came up a run short in a 8-7 loss to Oregon on Friday in the Big Ten opener.

The Boilermakers trailed 7-1 entering the fourth inning but managed to bring the go-ahead run to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the ninth.

The game was played in front of a crowd of 1,927 on a 75-degree Friday in Greater Lafayette, setting an attendance record in the home opener at Alexander Field for the second year in a row.

Dionne barreled up for a home run into the right field bullpen in the sixth inning. Flores followed Westin Boyle's leadoff triple in the ninth with an opposite-field shot to left center. Flores also connected for a double off the wall in right center for Purdue's first extra-base hit of the game.

Graham Kollen (2 2/3 IP, 2 H, R, 0 BB, 4 K) and Noah Filer (1-2-3 ninth) teamed up for 3 2/3 innings of one-hit relief as the Boilermakers posted five zeros over the final six innings.

Complete recap to follow...