Box score (PDF)

HOLLY SPRING, N.C. – Sophomore right fielder James Quinn-Irons hit a three-run home run in the first inning, but the Patriots dropped the first game of their four-game weekend series to Purdue, 7-4, on Friday at Ting Stadium in Holly Springs, N.C.
 
Mason (1-4) took the lead over Purdue (4-1) in the top of the first against Boilermakers graduate student starter Jordan Morales.
 
With two outs, Mason senior center fielder Jordan Smith and graduate student designated hitter Ben Jones both reached on errors on the third baseman.  Quinn-Irons then belted his first home run of the season, a three-run blast to right-center to put the Patriots in front, 3-0. 
 
The Boilermakers got on the board in the bottom of the first against Mason senior starter Nick Martins.  Purdue put a runner on with a one-out single and with two outs, freshman first baseman Luke Gaffney hit a two-run home run to right center to make it a one-run game, 3-2.
 
With one out in the bottom of the second, Purdue junior right fielder Keenan Spence singled and stole second.  Sophomore Camden Gasser then singled to left with Spence scoring from second to tie the game, 3-3.
 
In the bottom of the third, senior center fielder Couper Cornblum led off with a single and stole second.  Senior Connor Caskenette then reached on a throwing error.  After a fielder's choice ground out, junior designated hitter Logan Sutter hit a three-run homer to right-center to put the Boilermakers ahead, 6-3.
 
The Patriots got a run back in the top of the fourth.  Jones led off with a single and Quinn-Irons reached on a throwing error.  After a double play, junior first baseman Reece Woody singled through the right side with Jones crossing the plate to cut the lead to 6-4.
 
Purdue loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth on a pair of singles and a walk.  With one out, Caskenette drove in the final run of the game with a fielder's choice ground out to pad the Purdue advantage to 7-4.
 
For the Patriots, Martins (0-2) allowed six earned runs on six hits with four strikeouts one one walk in 4.0 innings.  Sophomore Owen Stewart gave up one run on three hits in 2.0 innings.  Junior Britt Yount tossed 1.1 hitless innings with two strikeouts.  Graduate student Luke Goodyear retired the two batters he faced in his outing.
 
For the Boilermakers, Morales (2-0) allowed four unearned runs on six hits with eight strikeouts and one walk in 6.0 innings.  Senior Jackson Dannelley didn't allow a hit over the final 3.0 innings and notched his second save of the season.
 
HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Patriots took the 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning on a three-run home run by Quinn-Irons.
• In the bottom of the first, Gaffney hit a two-run home run to make it a one-run game, 3-2.
• Gasser tied the game 3-3 in the bottom of the second with a RBI-single.
• In the bottom of the third, Sutter hit a three-run home run to put the Boilermakers in the lead, 6-3.
• In the top of the fourth, Woody drove in a run with a single to pull the Patriots within two runs, 6-4.
• Caskenette drove in the final run of the game in the bottom of the sixth with a ground out for the 7-4 final. 

NOTES:

• Jones went 1-for-4 and scored two runs.
• Quinn-Irons was 1-for-3 with a three-run home run.
• Woody finished 2-for-4.
• Senior left fielder Derek Wood and freshman third baseman Jake Butler each went 1-for-3. 

NEXT
 
The Patriots and Boilermakers play a doubleheader on Saturday with the first pitch for game one scheduled for 1 p.m. at Ting Stadium in Holly Springs, N.C.