Purdue Baseball Opens season 1-2 in Atlanta

It wasn't a winless weekend for Purdue thanks to four runs in the final three innings against Georgia State, but the Boilers were very close to a 3-0 weekend had they gotten another timely hit or two. Here is your brief recap:

Friday: No. 21 Georgia Tech 5, Purdue 2

Purdue was able to get a very early lead thanks to a fielding error that allowed Jack Picchiotti to score on a two out single from Kyle Johnson in the top of the second. The Yellow Jackets then added runs in the third and fourth before Purdue loaded the bases with no one out down 2-1 in the top of the 6^th. Mike Kornacker grounded into a  double play, which scored the tying run, but left a runner stranded at third after a ground out.

Georgia Tech then scored on a homer in the bottom of the inning and added two unearned runs on two errors in the eighth. Tanner Schumacher took the hard loss by giving up just two hits in three and a third innings, but he was responsible for the home run.

Saturday: Kennesaw State 5, Purdue 2

The Boilers outhit the Owls, but left 10 men on base and were 1 of 15 with runners in scoring position as they missed opportunity after opportunity. Nick Dalesandro gave up three runs in the fourth on three hits to take the loss in his collegiate debut.

Purdue scored twice in the 8^th on a sacrifice fly from Alec Olund and Brett Carlson would score on a failed pickoff attempt, but Purdue was already down 5-0 when the inning started and left two more men on base. Purdue left two runners on base in four of nine innings.

Sunday: Purdue 5, Georgia State 3

Purdue continued to leave men on base at a rate that they now have their own Congressman, but they still pulled out a win on Sunday. Dalesandro, who took the loss on the mound on Saturday, delivered his first collegiate hit with a two-run double in the top of the ninth.

Schumacher earned the win in four innings of relief as he threw over 7 innings for the weekend, earning a win and a loss. Gavin Downs was also solid by giving up two runs in five innings. Schumacher worked a perfect 12 up, 12 down in the final four innings.

Overall, the weekend was good for Purdue. Western Michigan and Virginia Commonwealth  werehte other two teams that traveled around playing the same three Atlanta teams. VCU went 2-1, losing to Georgia Tech, while Western Michigan lost all three games.

Up Next

Purdue will go out West this coming weekend for their toughest series of the season. They head to California to face the Golden Bears, who started the regular season ranked in the top 15. Cal struggled this past weekend, however, dropping two of three at Duke. They won the opener 5-2, but lost 6-5 and 5-4 in the last two games. Purdue will be their home opener after they play a midweek game at San Francisco.