April 16, 2014
Complete Release in PDF Format
The Slate
Boilermaker Softball Complex - West Lafayette, Ind.
Live Stats: purduesports.com
Radio: Listen
Friday, April 18
4 p.m. vs. Illinois
Strike Out Cancer Day
Saturday, April 19
5 p.m. vs. Illinois
TV: BTN
PxP: Eric Collins; Color: Jennie Ritter
Alumni Reunion/Social Media Day
#PurdueILLSB
Sunday, April 20
Noon vs. Illinois
Easter Egg Extravaganza
Promotions
The Boilermakers will celebrate cancer survivors and those currently battling the disease, while also remembering those loved ones we have lost to all types of cancer at Friday's Strike Out Cancer game. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to support the cause. Donations also will be collected and given to the American Cancer Society.
On Saturday, we welcome alumnae from throughout our program's history to the Boilermaker Softball Complex for our Alumnae Reunion game. The Big Ten Network will be broadcasting the game live. Fans are encouraged to interact with the broadcast, with each other and with both teams using the hashtag #PurdueILLSB throughout the game. Trivia and other social media contests will take place throughout and there will also be opportunities to interact with the BTN announcers via social media.
On Sunday, the Boilermakers will host an Easter Egg Hunt following the noon game.The softball team will help with all aspects of the hunt.
The Book on the Boilermakers
At First Glance: Purdue (22-20-1, 9-3 Big Ten) has won 13 of its last 17 games dating to March 16 and has taken each of its first four Big Ten series. The team returns 17 players from its 2013 squad which posted a 21-32 mark, an 8-14 Big Ten mark and Big Ten Tournament second round appearance. Seven position starters and three starting pitchers return, while five newcomers join the roster. Head coach Kim Schuette is in her first season with the Boilermakers after spending the last eight years as head coach at Eastern Illinois.
Last Time Out: The Boilermakers won the season series with Ohio State 2-1. Purdue took the opener 1-0 and the finale 5-4, but dropped Saturday's game 8-0. The Boilers also played a Wednesday home game with Ball State and fell 6-5.
Statistically Speaking: Outfielder Andie Varsho leads the Boilermaker bats with a .449 average, 36 runs, 13 doubles and 20 stolen bases. Six other starters are batting .250 or better. Catcher Danielle Fletcher (.350), first baseman Ashley Burkhardt (.348), designated player Katy McJunkin (.341), infielder Tori Chiodo (.327), catcher/outfielder Maia Monchek (.277) and outfielder Lindsey Rains (.272) round out the group. Fletcher has driven in 32 RBI, while registering eight home runs and 10 doubles. Burkhardt has driven in a team-best 33 RBI and boasts 12 doubles and seven home runs. Chiodo has driven in 33 RBI and scored 27 runs, while also launching seven home runs and stealing seven bases. Rains adds 18 RBI, 19 runs, two homers and eight steals. As a team, the Boilers are batting .306 with 29 home runs and 50 stolen bases.
In the circle, the Purdue staff has combined for 236 strikeouts in 279 innings. Sophomore Lilly Fecho (16-10) has done the bulk of the pitching, striking out 161 batters in 161 innings, including 21 complete games. Junior Lexy Moore (4-8) has added 47 Ks in 68 innings, while junior Alex Whittemore (2-2) has issued 17 Ks in 32 innings, including a complete-game no-hitter. Senior Lauren Grant has struck out 11 batters in 16 innings.
Series Information
Illinois (Illinois leads the series 16-10): The Illini won seven of the first eight meetings in the series which began on April 27, 2001. Purdue countered by taking seven of the next 10, including three straight in 2005 and 2006. Illinois won four straight from 2009 to 2011. The teams have split the last four games. Purdue is 5-9 against the Illini when playing in West Lafayette, 4-7 in Champaign, and 1-0 in neutral contests.
What a Difference a Win Makes ...
If the Boilermakers top Illinois on Friday...
- They will move to 23-20-1 on the season and 10-3 in Big Ten play. The 10-3 start will match Purdue's best Big Ten start in program history (also 2012).
- They will have won the opener of each of their first five conference series in 2014. (Purdue has won all four Big Ten series thus far in 2014 - vs. Penn State, Michigan State, Indiana and Ohio State).
- They will have won 14 of their last 18 games.
- They will move to 219-202-2 all-time in the month of April, including a 9-7 mark when playing on April 18.
Facts About the Fighting Illini
At First Glance: The Illinois Fighting Illini (18-18, 2-10 Big Ten) are scheduled to play a single game against DePaul on Wednesday in Champaign before travelling to West Lafayette for the weekend series. The Illini return 13 letterwinners, including nine starters and one pitcher, from the 2013 team that posted a 22-27 record and finished sixth in the Big Ten. Illinois is coached by Terri Sullivan, who is in her 15th year with the team.
Last Time Out: The Illini have lost their last five games, including all three games of their series with Wisconsin in Madison last weekend. Illinois fell to the Badgers by scored of 3-2, 10-3 and 3-2.
Statistically Speaking: Outfielders Alex Booker and Kylie Johnson lead a group of seven Illini players batting .250 or better. Booker (.398) has driven in a team-best 23 RBI, scored 22 runs and stolen 11 bases, while Johnson (.397) has added 15 runs, 10 RBI and eight steals. Second baseman Allie Bauch (.344), shortstop Ruby Rivera (.311), catcher Jenna Mychko (.304), utility player Jess Perkins (.279) and first baseman Remeny Perez (.268) round out the group. Mychko has launched a team-best six home runs and driven in 20 RBI, while Bauch and Perkins each have added five homers. Bauch also has scored a team-leading 26 runs and stolen eight bases. Rivera has posted a team-best 12 doubles and Perez has chipped in seven doubles and four homers. As a team, Illinois is batting .292 with 31 home runs and 36 stolen bases.
Freshman Brandi Needham (13-9), junior Shelese Arnold (4-7) and freshman Jade Vecvanags (1-1) have split time in the circle for Illinois. Needham has struck out a team-best 79 batters in 135 innings, including three shutouts and a save. Arnold has added 30 Ks in 72 innings with two shutouts and a save. Vecvanags has struck out 23 in 34 innings. The staff is allowing foes a .271 average.
Among The Nation
The Boilermakers rank 32nd nationally in doubles per game (1.51) and 46th in batting average (.306) and on-base percentage (.389). Individually, senior Andie Varsho ranks among the national top 30 in batting average (19th with .449) and on-base percentage (27th with .528). Junior Ashley Burkhardt ranks 11th nationally in sacrifice flies (4). Senior Maia Monchek ranks 48th in sacrifice bunts per game (0.22). Sophomore pitcher Lilly Fecho is 34th nationally in strikeouts (162) and 39th in wins (16).