Game Notes / Win Streaks / Live Video / Live Audio / Gameday Central
WEEKEND SERIES INFORMATION
Northwestern (14-25, 4-14 B1G) at Purdue (24-16, 10-4 B1G)
Friday to Sunday, May 4 to 6 at 6, 6 and 1 p.m. ET / BTN Plus on BTN2Go
Alexander Field / West Lafayette, Indiana
All-Time Series: Purdue leads 111-94-2 / All-Time in West Lafayette: Purdue leads 59-43-1
2017: Northwestern won 2 of 3 (May 5-7 in West Lafayette)
Purdue's Last Series Win vs. Northwestern: Swept a 3-game set (April 2012 in Evanston)
Purdue's Last Series Win vs. Northwestern in West Lafayette: Purdue won 3 of 4 (March 2008)
First Meeting: Northwestern 10, Purdue 3 (May 1900 in Evanston)
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday: Tanner Andrews (Sr, RHP) vs. NU's Quinn Lavelle (Fr, LHP)
Saturday: Gareth Stroh (Jr, LHP) vs. NU's Hank Christie (So, RHP)
Sunday: Trent Johnson (Fr, RHP) vs. TBA for Northwestern
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
Friday: Star Wars Night -- Donate a Book or Toy for a Purdue/Star Wars koozie
Saturday: Craft Beer Night -- Special $25 Ticket for Early Admission & 10 Tasting Tickets
Sunday: Bark at the Park -- Bring Your Dog to Alexander Field; Free Pet Bag Dispensers
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - With final exams on campus complete, Purdue baseball resumes its season-long homestand and aims to extend its eight-game win streak while hosting Northwestern to open the month of May for the second year in a row.
First pitch at Alexander Field is set for 6 p.m. ET on Friday and Saturday. Fans are invited to bring their dogs to the ballpark for Sunday's annual Bark at the Park game. First pitch is set for 1 p.m.
The Boilermakers' longest win streak since 2012 has propelled them into third place in the Big Ten standings, two games behind first-place Michigan (12-2). However, just two games separate third-place Purdue (10-4) and seventh-place Iowa (9-7). This weekend, second-place Minnesota (11-3) hosts fifth-place Indiana (9-5) and sixth-place Ohio State (9-6) visits fourth-place Illinois (10-5).
FINALS WEEK BREAK SIMILARITIES
Purdue enters the stretch run of the season in a very similar position as last year. However, the Boilermakers aim to play much better than they did in May last season when they were just 4-9. Thankfully, two of those victories came at Minnesota to close the regular season, clinching Purdue a berth in the Big Ten Tournament.
| Year | Record | B1G Record | Win Streak | Haven't Trailed In | Homestand | Up Next |
| 2017 | 25-18 | 9-6 | 7 Straight | 57 Innings | 13-Game | Northwestern |
| 2018 | 24-16 | 10-4 | 8 Straight | 48 Innings | 9-Game | Northwestern |
Coach Waz & Evan Warden discuss the important parts of the Boilermakers' 8-game win streak that has vaulted them into 3rd place in the Big Ten with 3 weekends to go. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/8Zh3XdNLUy
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) May 3, 2018
WORD ON THE WILDCATS
Northwestern is led by third-year head coach Spencer Allen, an assistant at Purdue from 2008 to 2009. He helped recruit numerous members of the Boilermakers' 2012 Big Ten championship team. A year ago, Allen led the Wildcats back to the Big Ten Tournament for the first time since 2010. Beginning with its series win in West Lafayette, NU won 10 of its final 14 games. Northwestern defeated Michigan, Minnesota and Maryland to reach the championship game of the Big Ten Tournament for the first time since 1984.
The Wildcats have been more competitive than their 4-14 conference record this season would suggest. They were swept at home by both Illinois and Michigan State, but lost those six games by a combined nine runs. Northwestern's season-long five-game win streak was snapped Wednesday in a wild 26-15 slugfest at common opponent Western Michigan. The Wildcats have of struggled at home, winning just once in 11 games against Division I opponents. But after rallying twice to sweep Penn State in Central Pennsylvania this past weekend, they're 10-13 in true road games.
DALESANDRO A MULTI-DIMENSIONAL WEAPON AT CATCHER
Along with being one of the top throwing catchers in the Big Ten, Nick Dalesandro is also the fastest. He has thrown out 16 base stealers to share the league lead entering the weekend. He's the only catcher among the top 15 in the Big Ten in stolen bases as a runner. Dalesandro is believed to share the national leader in steals among full-time catchers as one of just four to reach double figures this season.
Nick Dalesandro, Purdue -- 14 of 16
Evan Pace, Southeastern Louisiana -- 14 of 15
Chris Proctor, Duke -- 10 of 11
Christopher Bec, Maine -- 10 of 12
OLUND, WARDEN MAKING THE LINEUP FORMIDABLE TOP TO BOTTOM
The consistent production from Alec Olund and Evan Warden in the seven and eight holes in the lineup has been a big part of Purdue's eight-game win streak. Both players batted over .400 during the first seven games of the win streak. The Boilermakers won the series finale vs. Rutgers 1-0 despite recording just four hits as a team. Olund (2-for-16) and Warden (5-for-24) both scuffled at the plate over the first two weeks of April, but were able to pull out of the slumps. They're also plus-defenders in right field and at third base.
Purdue is 16-4 in Olund's 20 starts this year. He was limited by a shoulder injury for much of the pre-conference portion of the season. He returned to the starting lineup March 23 in the nightcap of the home-opening doubleheader vs. Lipscomb. The only games he has not started since then were the two blowout losses against Minnesota.
Olund During First 7 Games of the Win Streak: 12-for-28, 3 2B, 6 RBI, BB, 5 R
Warden During First 7 Games of the Win Streak: 10-for-24, 3 2B, 6 RBI, 5 BB, 8 R
Alec Olund & Evan Warden have been very productive at the plate over the last 2 weeks, helping Purdue win 8 straight. Coach Waz joins Warden in discussing his different role at third base this year. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/LCsUZXJl1b
-- Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) May 3, 2018
ACTIVE STREAKS OF NOTE
Ross Learnard: 21 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings; stranded 9 consecutive inherited runners
Harry Shipley: Reached safely in 18 consecutive games, 13 straight in B1G play, all 12 at home
Nick Dalesandro: Reached safely in 14 consecutive games, 11 straight at home
Skyler Hunter: Hit safely in 8 consecutive B1G games; reached safely in last 8 games overall
Jacson McGowan: Reached safely in 11 consecutive games; drawn a walk in 6 straight games
Tanner Andrews: 8 consecutive scoreless innings
Trevor Cheaney: 7 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings
Purdue has held the lead for 26 consecutive innings
Purdue has not trailed for 48 consecutive innings
Purdue has won 8 consecutive games, 6 straight in Big Ten play