PITCHING LIFTS PURDUE BASEBALL TO ROAD WIN AT BUTLER, 6-1
Adam Dressler
and Joe Eichmann teamed up for eight innings of one-run ball and Purdue
baseball recorded 10-plus hits for the fourth time in the last five
games en route to winning at Butler, 6-1, on a windy Wednesday
afternoon.
Kyle Johnson led the way with three hits and an RBI
as one of three Boilers with multiple hits. Conner Hudnall drove in
three runs, highlighted by a two-run double in the sixth inning.
In
his first collegiate start, Dressler (1-0) surrendered just one run on
five hits over 5 2/3 innings. All five hits came with two outs and he
did not issue a walk. The freshman retired 12 consecutive batters from
the second through sixth innings. Butler (7-12) recorded three
consecutive two-out hits to plate a run in the sixth inning, but
Eichmann took over and struck out the first man he faced to strand a
pair. The junior has allowed only three of 14 inherited base runners to
score this season.
Eichmann put up zeros in the seventh and
eighth innings and struck out five of the eight batters he faced over 2
1/3 hitless innings of relief.
Purdue (2-14) scored twice in the
fourth and sixth innings and tacked on an insurance tally in the
seventh and eighth. Singles by Sean McHugh, Johnson and Hudnall in the
top of the fourth gave the Boilers the lead. After driving in McHugh,
smarting base running by Johnson allowed him to take third on the play
as Butler threw home and then into center field trying to cut down
Johnson on the backend of the play.
Kyle Wood and Johnson were
aboard when Hudnall doubled to right center in the sixth inning. Butler
center fielder Marcos Calderon nearly made a nice diving catch, but the
ball popped free and Johnson was able to score from first base.
An
inning later, Brandon Krieg reached on a one-out infield single, stole
second and took third when the Bulldogs’ pitcher threw the ball into
center field on a failed pickoff attempt. Butler brought the infield in
with McHugh at the plate, but Krieg was still able to score on a ground
ball to shortstop after getting a great jump.
Kyle Upp’s leadoff double led to the Boilers’ final run in the eighth inning.
Wood
struck out the final two batters he faced to close out the win with a
scoreless ninth inning. The three Purdue pitchers teamed up for a
season-high nine strikeouts.
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