Purdue Hosts Rutgers for Pivotal Series at Alexander – Purdue Boilermakers
Rutgers (25-16, 7-5 Big Ten) at Purdue (19-21, 8-7 Big Ten)
Friday to Sunday, April 28-30
Alexander Field / West Lafayette, Indiana
Series Opener: Friday, April 28 at 6 p.m. ET on B1G+
Middle Game: Saturday, April 29 at 5 p.m. ET on BTN
Series Finale: Sunday, April 30 at Noon on B1G+
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Rutgers leads 10-8
All-Time in West Lafayette: Purdue leads 5-4
2022: Rutgers 10, Purdue 3 (May 26 at the Big Ten Tournament in Omaha)
Last Series: Rutgers won 2 of 3 (March 2021 in West Lafayette)
Purdue’s Last Series Win vs. RU: Purdue swept a 3-game set (April 2018 in West Lafayette)
First Meeting: Purdue 15, Rutgers 9 (March 1999 in Boca Raton, Fla.)
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday: (So, RHP) vs. RU’s Christian Coppola (Fr, RHP)
Saturday: (Jr, LHP) vs. RU’s Grant Besser (Jr, LHP)
Sunday: (Jr, RHP) vs. RU’s Drew Conover (Jr, RHP)
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
Friday: International Dance Night – Celebrating all styles of dance from around the world
Saturday: Purdue Baseball Alumni Day; Coasters Set 3 (of 4) Giveaway
Sunday: Bark in the Park Dog Day; Foldable Dog Bowl Giveaway; Kids Run the Bases Postgame
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue baseball closes out its busy month of April and continues its season-long homestand by hosting Rutgers for a pivotal Big Ten series at Alexander Field.
First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. Friday, 5 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday. Saturday’s game is set to be televised live by the Big Ten Network as Purdue’s third TV game of the conference season. Prior to Friday’s game, will be presented with a commemorative base recognizing him as the team’s new stolen base record holder.
The Boilermakers have three conference weekends remaining and a home series against one of the four teams only a half-game ahead of them in the Big Ten standings is crucial in the race to qualify for the Big Ten Tournament (top eight). Illinois is one game behind Purdue for eighth place and also has only three league weekends left. The Boilermakers and Illini do not play each other in the regular season this year.
WEEKEND #6 OF BIG TEN PLAY
• Rutgers (7-5) at Purdue (8-7)
• Illinois (7-8) at Ohio State (3-12)
• Maryland (8-4) at Indiana (9-3)
• Iowa (7-5) at Penn State (5-7)
• Minnesota (4-8) at Nebraska (7-5)
• Northwestern (3-9) at Michigan State (7-5)
• Oklahoma State at Michigan (9-6) – Non-Conference
Rutgers has won six straight games and 10 of its last 11 dating back to April 9. Highlighted by a series sweep at Northwestern last weekend, the Scarlet Knights have won the first five games of their eight-game road stretch and now lead the Big Ten with 14 true road wins. Rutgers’ breakthrough 44-win season a year ago was powered by 22 true road wins. The Knights also won three straight games in Omaha in their debut at the Big Ten Tournament but lost to Michigan in the winner-take-all championship game. Their omission from the NCAA Tournament field was among the top headlines on Memorial Day a year ago.
Purdue has compiled an 8-8 record in April and this weekend marks the end of a stretch in which the team will have played 19 games in 29 days. The Boilermakers are idle from midweek play next week due to final exams on campus. After hosting South Dakota State on May 5-8 for their open weekend in Big Ten play, two more tough tests await over the final fortnight of the regular season. Indiana and Nebraska are a combined 53-26-1 this season and Purdue’s head-to-head records with those foes are not favorable in the locations where the series will be played – 2-12 vs. IU in Bloomington since 2013 and 0-6 vs. Nebraska at Alexander Field.
The Boilermakers are at 8-7 in Big Ten play after five conference weekends, all of which have featured the series winner taking two of three. No sweeps for or against over five straight Big Ten weekends has not happened for Purdue since 2014. A fourth series win of the conference season this weekend would strength the Boilermakers’ Big Ten Tournament prospects and provide more margin for error in May. A home series win vs. Michigan from April 30 to May 2 last year did likewise for Purdue a year ago.
Rutgers has a roster loaded with New Jersey natives but one notable exception is Saturday’s probable starting pitcher, Indiana native Grant Besser (Berne/South Adams HS). The lefty moved into the weekend rotation April 7 at Maryland and has surrendered just seven hits over 13 innings over his three Big Ten starts. Freshman Christian Coppola is starting on Fridays and struck out 12 in a shutout win vs. Michigan on April 14.
Rutgers averages only six strikeouts per game at the plate (best in the Big Ten) and owns a solid .975 team fielding percentage. Over their first four conference weekends, the Knights have 55 walks vs. 56 strikeouts as a team. On the mound, RU’s .238 batting average against and 4.48 ERA are both second in the Big Ten.
ACTIVE NOTABLE STREAKS
• – 18-game on-base; 11-game hit; 13-game on-base in Big Ten play; 10-game hit at Alexander
• – 14-game on-base; 10-game hit in Big Ten play; 8-game run scored; 8-game on-base at Alexander
• – 12-game on-base; 8-game on-base at Alexander/Big Ten play; 6-game hit in Big Ten play
• – 7-game hit, 6-game RBI (RBI streak is Purdue’s longest since [13] in 2022)
• – 5-game on-base/stolen base/run scored
CASKENETTE’S 18-GAME ON-BASE STREAK (Since March 26)
• 20-for-66 (.303/.378/.515), 5 2B, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 4 BB, 4 HBP, 11 R
PARR’S 14-GAME ON-BASE STREAK (Since April 2)
• 19-for-48 (.396/.482/.646), 4 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 6 BB, 13 R, SB
TOETZ’S 12-GAME ON-BASE STREAK (Since April 8)
• 17-for-45 (.378/.451/.511), 6 2B, 9 RBI, 5 BB, HBP, 9 R
CORNBLUM’S 7-GAME HIT STREAK (Since April 15)
• 11-for-30 (.367/.424/.500), 4 2B, 9 RBI, 3 BB, 5 R, 4 SB
IWINSKI’S FIRST 2 STARTS AT ALEXANDER FIELD
• March 2 vs. Northwestern: ND, 6 2/3 IP, 3 H, R, 0 BB, 5 K
• April 15 vs. Penn State: W, 8 IP, 6 H, R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
• Combined: 14 2/3 IP, 9 H, 2 R, ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 0.61 ERA, .180 B/Avg
STEPHEN SINCE THE HOME SEASON BEGAN (March 15)
• 4-1, 6 GS, 33 2/3 IP, 26 H, 13 BB, 37 K, 3.48 ERA, .208 B/Avg
CONSECUTIVE 20-STEAL SEASONS
• Dave Scheitlin – 26 in 1990, 30 in 1991 /// 2-Year Total: 56
• Jeff Allison – 23 in 1986, 33 in 1987 /// 2-Year Total: 56
• – 28 in 2022, 25 in 2023 /// 2-Year Total: 53
• Chris Detrick – 21 in 1980, 25 in 1981 /// 2-Year Total: 46
• Chris Walker – 20 in 1998, 21 in 1999 /// 2-Year Total: 41
THREE CONSECUTIVE SEASONS WITH 10+ STEALS (Since 1970)
• – 17 in 2021, 28 in 2022, 25 in 2023 /// 3-Year Total: 70
• Dave Scheitlin – 12 in 1989, 26 in 1990, 30 in 1991 /// 3-Year Total: 68
• Chris Walker – 20 in 1998, 21 in 1999, 15 in 2000 /// 3-Year Total: 56
• Stephen Talbott – 17 in 2011, 15 in 2012, 18 in 2013 /// 3-Year Total: 50
• Jermaine Allensworth – 16 in 1991, 14 in 1992, 18 in 1993 /// 3-Year Total: 48
• Eric Charles – 15 in 2010, 11 in 2011, 16 in 2012 /// 3-Year Total: 42
• Daniel Underwood – 13 in 2000, 11 in 2001, 13 in 2002 /// 3-Year Total: 37
Friday to Sunday, April 28-30Alexander Field / West Lafayette, IndianaSeries Opener: Friday, April 28 at 6 p.m. ET on B1G+Middle Game: Saturday, April 29 at 5 p.m. ET on BTNSeries Finale: Sunday, April 30 at Noon on B1G+All-Time: Rutgers leads 10-8All-Time in West Lafayette: Purdue leads 5-42022: Rutgers 10, Purdue 3 (May 26 at the Big Ten Tournament in Omaha)Last Series: Rutgers won 2 of 3 (March 2021 in West Lafayette)Purdue’s Last Series Win vs. RU: Purdue swept a 3-game set (April 2018 in West Lafayette)First Meeting: Purdue 15, Rutgers 9 (March 1999 in Boca Raton, Fla.)Friday:(So, RHP) vs. RU’s Christian Coppola (Fr, RHP)Saturday:(Jr, LHP) vs. RU’s Grant Besser (Jr, LHP)Sunday:(Jr, RHP) vs. RU’s Drew Conover (Jr, RHP)Friday: International Dance Night – Celebrating all styles of dance from around the worldSaturday: Purdue Baseball Alumni Day; Coasters Set 3 (of 4) GiveawaySunday: Bark in the Park Dog Day; Foldable Dog Bowl Giveaway; Kids Run the Bases Postgame– Purdue baseball closes out its busy month of April and continues its season-long homestand by hosting Rutgers for a pivotal Big Ten series at Alexander Field.First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. Friday, 5 p.m. Saturday and noon Sunday. Saturday’s game is set to be televised live by the Big Ten Network as Purdue’s third TV game of the conference season. Prior to Friday’s game,will be presented with a commemorative base recognizing him as the team’s new stolen base record holder.The Boilermakers have three conference weekends remaining and a home series against one of the four teams only a half-game ahead of them in the Big Ten standings is crucial in the race to qualify for the Big Ten Tournament (top eight). Illinois is one game behind Purdue for eighth place and also has only three league weekends left. The Boilermakers and Illini do not play each other in the regular season this year.Rutgers (7-5) at Purdue (8-7)Illinois (7-8) at Ohio State (3-12)Maryland (8-4) at Indiana (9-3)Iowa (7-5) at Penn State (5-7)Minnesota (4-8) at Nebraska (7-5)Northwestern (3-9) at Michigan State (7-5)Oklahoma State at Michigan (9-6) – Non-ConferenceRutgers has won six straight games and 10 of its last 11 dating back to April 9. Highlighted by a series sweep at Northwestern last weekend, the Scarlet Knights have won the first five games of their eight-game road stretch and now lead the Big Ten with 14 true road wins. Rutgers’ breakthrough 44-win season a year ago was powered by 22 true road wins. The Knights also won three straight games in Omaha in their debut at the Big Ten Tournament but lost to Michigan in the winner-take-all championship game. Their omission from the NCAA Tournament field was among the top headlines on Memorial Day a year ago.Purdue has compiled an 8-8 record in April and this weekend marks the end of a stretch in which the team will have played 19 games in 29 days. The Boilermakers are idle from midweek play next week due to final exams on campus. After hosting South Dakota State on May 5-8 for their open weekend in Big Ten play, two more tough tests await over the final fortnight of the regular season. Indiana and Nebraska are a combined 53-26-1 this season and Purdue’s head-to-head records with those foes are not favorable in the locations where the series will be played – 2-12 vs. IU in Bloomington since 2013 and 0-6 vs. Nebraska at Alexander Field.The Boilermakers are at 8-7 in Big Ten play after five conference weekends, all of which have featured the series winner taking two of three. No sweeps for or against over five straight Big Ten weekends has not happened for Purdue since 2014. A fourth series win of the conference season this weekend would strength the Boilermakers’ Big Ten Tournament prospects and provide more margin for error in May. A home series win vs. Michigan from April 30 to May 2 last year did likewise for Purdue a year ago.Rutgers has a roster loaded with New Jersey natives but one notable exception is Saturday’s probable starting pitcher, Indiana native Grant Besser (Berne/South Adams HS). The lefty moved into the weekend rotation April 7 at Maryland and has surrendered just seven hits over 13 innings over his three Big Ten starts. Freshman Christian Coppola is starting on Fridays and struck out 12 in a shutout win vs. Michigan on April 14.Rutgers averages only six strikeouts per game at the plate (best in the Big Ten) and owns a solid .975 team fielding percentage. Over their first four conference weekends, the Knights have 55 walks vs. 56 strikeouts as a team. On the mound, RU’s .238 batting average against and 4.48 ERA are both second in the Big Ten.– 18-game on-base; 11-game hit; 13-game on-base in Big Ten play; 10-game hit at Alexander– 14-game on-base; 10-game hit in Big Ten play; 8-game run scored; 8-game on-base at Alexander– 12-game on-base; 8-game on-base at Alexander/Big Ten play; 6-game hit in Big Ten play– 7-game hit, 6-game RBI (RBI streak is Purdue’s longest since[13] in 2022)– 5-game on-base/stolen base/run scored20-for-66 (.303/.378/.515), 5 2B, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 4 BB, 4 HBP, 11 R19-for-48 (.396/.482/.646), 4 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 6 BB, 13 R, SB17-for-45 (.378/.451/.511), 6 2B, 9 RBI, 5 BB, HBP, 9 R11-for-30 (.367/.424/.500), 4 2B, 9 RBI, 3 BB, 5 R, 4 SBMarch 2 vs. Northwestern: ND, 6 2/3 IP, 3 H, R, 0 BB, 5 KApril 15 vs. Penn State: W, 8 IP, 6 H, R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 KCombined: 14 2/3 IP, 9 H, 2 R, ER, 0 BB, 8 K, 0.61 ERA, .180 B/Avg4-1, 6 GS, 33 2/3 IP, 26 H, 13 BB, 37 K, 3.48 ERA, .208 B/AvgDave Scheitlin – 26 in 1990, 30 in 1991 /// 2-Year Total: 56Jeff Allison – 23 in 1986, 33 in 1987 /// 2-Year Total: 56– 28 in 2022, 25 in 2023 /// 2-Year Total: 53Chris Detrick – 21 in 1980, 25 in 1981 /// 2-Year Total: 46Chris Walker – 20 in 1998, 21 in 1999 /// 2-Year Total: 41– 17 in 2021, 28 in 2022, 25 in 2023 /// 3-Year Total: 70Dave Scheitlin – 12 in 1989, 26 in 1990, 30 in 1991 /// 3-Year Total: 68Chris Walker – 20 in 1998, 21 in 1999, 15 in 2000 /// 3-Year Total: 56Stephen Talbott – 17 in 2011, 15 in 2012, 18 in 2013 /// 3-Year Total: 50Jermaine Allensworth – 16 in 1991, 14 in 1992, 18 in 1993 /// 3-Year Total: 48Eric Charles – 15 in 2010, 11 in 2011, 16 in 2012 /// 3-Year Total: 42Daniel Underwood – 13 in 2000, 11 in 2001, 13 in 2002 /// 3-Year Total: 37
