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GAMEDAY INFORMATION
NJIT (5-2-1, 22-25 in 2018) vs. Purdue (1-9, 38-21 in 2018)
Doubleheader – Saturday, March 9 at Noon ET
Series Finale – Sunday, March 10 at Noon ET
Big League Camp / Marion, North Carolina
All-Time Series: First Meetings
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Saturday Game 1: Andrew Bohm (R-So, RHP) vs. NJIT's Tyler Stafflinger (Jr, RHP)
Saturday Game 2: Patrick J. Smith (Sr, LHP) vs. NJIT's Jared Kacso (Jr, RHP)
Sunday: Ryan Beard (Sr, LHP) vs. NJIT's Sean Lubreski (R-Sr, RHP)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The location and opponent are not as originally planned, but an opportunity to put some early-season struggles in the rearview mirror presents itself all the same as Purdue baseball takes on first-time foe NJIT for a neutral-site series at Big League Camp in North Carolina.
The three-game series will feature noon ET first pitches for Saturday's doubleheader and Sunday's series finale. It will be the fourth consecutive weekend with a doubleheader for the Highlanders and third twinbill already for the Boilermakers.
Located a few miles north of Marion, North Carolina, Big League Camp is a complex on the western shore of Lake James and the edge of the Appalachian Mountains. Its baseball diamond features a full artificial turf playing surface, except for the mound. UMBC took two of three from nearby UNC Asheville at Big League Camp the weekend of Feb. 22 to 24. West Virginia Tech and Cincinnati Christian also played a doubleheader there this week.
Purdue and NJIT were paired together after their weekend series in Omaha and Brooklyn were canceled this week.
RECENT TURNAROUNDS
• One commonality for the Boilermakers and Highlanders is they've both enjoyed double-figure win improvements in recent years. Purdue's 19-win improvement from 2016 (10-44) to 2017 (29-27) was a program record and tops nationally in head coach Mark Wasikowski's first season. NJIT experienced a 13-win improvement from 2017 (9-40) to 2018 (22-25). At 5-2-1, the Highlanders are off to their best start since making the move to the Division I level in 2007.
• Purdue and NJIT shared three common opponents in 2018 – Penn State, Lipscomb and Stetson. The Boilermakers had a 4-2 record against those teams while the Highlanders were 3-8. NJIT did post one win vs. all three.
IN SEARCH OF SLUMP BUSTERS
• Having scored in only five of the last 45 innings, the Boilermakers have not led since the ninth inning of their 4-0 win at Texas in game 3 of weekend No. 2 (Feb. 22-24). Purdue also went four straight games without holding a lead at any point during a tough 1-7 spring break trip last year. The program endured a 41-inning streak in May 2017 as well.
• A .192 team batting average with runners in scoring position is a big reason why the Boilermakers have only scored in 17 of 91 innings (19 percent) over their first 10 games. Collecting only 14 extra-base hits and 19 walks is another major culprit. Over the last five games, Purdue batters have been hit by a pitch (6) more often than they have walked (5).
• Meanwhile, opponents have had a significant advantage in extra-base hits (26 vs. 14) and walks (53 vs. 19). Comparing the Boilermakers' team slash line vs. that of their opponents is not pretty…
• Purdue: .207/.274/.256
• Opponents: .268/.376/.420
• With Purdue pitchers having struck out nine more batters (75 vs. 66) than their counterparts, coupled with the high walk rate, the Boilermakers' above-average infield defense (2 errors on balls in play) has not had a significant impact consistently. The opposition simply isn't putting the ball in play as often as Purdue, but the walks have made up for the edge the Boilermakers have in strikeouts. On top of that, the opposition has enjoyed a big advantage in batting average on balls in play (.314 vs. .252). The mean BABIP is traditionally thought to be .300.
• With a solo homer in the series finale at Oral Roberts, Ben Nisle accounted for Purdue's first long ball of the season for the second year in a row. With data available since 2005, he's the first Boilermaker to accomplish that feat. Cameron Perkins (2010, 2012) is the only other player to hit Purdue's first homer in multiple seasons. Last year Nisle became the first Boilermaker since Perkins in 2010 to go deep in his collegiate debut.
• Nisle also connected for the Boilermakers' final homer of 2018, teaming up with Jacson McGowan for back-to-back jacks in the NCAA Regional rematch with Houston.
FORGET THE FIRST INNING
• Andrew Bohm and Patrick J. Smith have been much different pitchers after the first inning. All five runs Smith has allowed in 10 1/3 innings as a starting pitcher have come in the first inning. Bohm has been charged with 12 runs over 12 1/3 innings. Eight of those runs have been scored in the first inning. As starting pitchers, their numbers outside the first inning are…
• Smith: 8 1/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K – Retired 25 of 31 batters faced
• Bohm: 9 1/3 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 11 K – Retired 26 of 41 batters faced
RETURNING TEAM LEADERS IN NEUTRAL-SITE ACTION
• The Boilermakers were 12-4 in neutral-site games last season. They swept a season-opening series vs. Western Michigan at the LakePoint Complex in Emerson, Georgia and also enjoyed victorious weekends at tournaments in San Antonio, DeLand, Florida, and Omaha. Among active players, Purdue's top performers in such games included…
• Skyler Hunter: .453/.472/.609 (29-for-64), 6 2B, 2 3B, 14 RBI, 3 BB, 21 R
• Ben Nisle: .283/.349/.472 (15-for-53), 2 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 6 BB, 7 R
• Tyler Powers: .364/.500/.364 (8-for-22), 2 RBI, 6 BB, 9 R, 2 SB
• Milo Beam: .357/.438/.456 (5-for-14), 2B, BB, 3 R
• Trent Johnson: 6 App, 6 1/3 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 8 K, 1.42 ERA, .143 B/Avg.
• Andrew Bohm: 4 App, 8 2/3 IP, 9 H, 4 BB, 4 K, 3.12 ERA, .290 B/Avg.
• Bo Hofstra: 8 App, 13 2/3 IP, 9 H, 4 BB, 13 K, 3.29 ERA, .180 B/Avg.
QUICK LOOK AT NJIT
• The Highlanders joined the Atlantic Sun Conference in time for the 2015-16 school year after competing as an independent for their first nine seasons at the Division I level. Robbie McClellan was named the interim head coach in August. He has been part of the staff since the fall of 2011.
• A trio of one-run wins coupled with a 21-5 loss in game 2 of a doubleheader at hitter-friendly Morehead State is the primary reason why NJIT is 5-2-1 despite being outscored 66-61 over the first eight games.
• The Highlanders have two pairs of brothers on their roster. Twins David and Julio Marcano from Katy, Texas, are infielders. Sean and Brett Lubreski from North Plainfield, New Jersey, are pitchers. Sean Lubreski is expected to start on the mound Sunday. Julio Marcano was a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American in 2018 after batting .352 with 14 doubles in 36 games. He's 8-for-21 with eight walks and no strikeouts so far this season, but did not play last weekend at Morehead State.
• Six different players have already homered for NJIT. Paul Franzoni went deep in three of the four games of the season-opening series vs. Eastern Michigan in Hoover, Alabama, already matching his total from 2018. Freshman Brett Helmkamp (12-for-31) has reached base safely in each of the first eight games.
• Each member of the Highlanders' current weekend rotation pitched at least 50 innings last season. Sean Lubreski (16 2/3 IP), Tyler Stafflinger (13 1/3) and Jared Kacso (11 1/3) have been leaned upon heavily early this year, working 41 1/3 of the 71 innings (58 percent) their team has been in the field. They've given up a combined 56 hits, but only seven have gone for extra bases. Hunter Harris has emerged as their most effective reliever, surrendering just four hits and three walks in 7 1/3 innings over his first three appearances. Even while using 16 pitchers already (Purdue has used 12 in 10 games), he is NJIT's only other hurler that has worked more than five innings.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
NJIT (5-2-1, 22-25 in 2018) vs. Purdue (1-9, 38-21 in 2018)
Doubleheader – Saturday, March 9 at Noon ET
Series Finale – Sunday, March 10 at Noon ET
Big League Camp / Marion, North Carolina
All-Time Series: First Meetings
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Saturday Game 1: Andrew Bohm (R-So, RHP) vs. NJIT's Tyler Stafflinger (Jr, RHP)
Saturday Game 2: Patrick J. Smith (Sr, LHP) vs. NJIT's Jared Kacso (Jr, RHP)
Sunday: Ryan Beard (Sr, LHP) vs. NJIT's Sean Lubreski (R-Sr, RHP)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The location and opponent are not as originally planned, but an opportunity to put some early-season struggles in the rearview mirror presents itself all the same as Purdue baseball takes on first-time foe NJIT for a neutral-site series at Big League Camp in North Carolina.
The three-game series will feature noon ET first pitches for Saturday's doubleheader and Sunday's series finale. It will be the fourth consecutive weekend with a doubleheader for the Highlanders and third twinbill already for the Boilermakers.
Located a few miles north of Marion, North Carolina, Big League Camp is a complex on the western shore of Lake James and the edge of the Appalachian Mountains. Its baseball diamond features a full artificial turf playing surface, except for the mound. UMBC took two of three from nearby UNC Asheville at Big League Camp the weekend of Feb. 22 to 24. West Virginia Tech and Cincinnati Christian also played a doubleheader there this week.
Purdue and NJIT were paired together after their weekend series in Omaha and Brooklyn were canceled this week.
RECENT TURNAROUNDS
• One commonality for the Boilermakers and Highlanders is they've both enjoyed double-figure win improvements in recent years. Purdue's 19-win improvement from 2016 (10-44) to 2017 (29-27) was a program record and tops nationally in head coach Mark Wasikowski's first season. NJIT experienced a 13-win improvement from 2017 (9-40) to 2018 (22-25). At 5-2-1, the Highlanders are off to their best start since making the move to the Division I level in 2007.
• Purdue and NJIT shared three common opponents in 2018 – Penn State, Lipscomb and Stetson. The Boilermakers had a 4-2 record against those teams while the Highlanders were 3-8. NJIT did post one win vs. all three.
IN SEARCH OF SLUMP BUSTERS
• Having scored in only five of the last 45 innings, the Boilermakers have not led since the ninth inning of their 4-0 win at Texas in game 3 of weekend No. 2 (Feb. 22-24). Purdue also went four straight games without holding a lead at any point during a tough 1-7 spring break trip last year. The program endured a 41-inning streak in May 2017 as well.
• A .192 team batting average with runners in scoring position is a big reason why the Boilermakers have only scored in 17 of 91 innings (19 percent) over their first 10 games. Collecting only 14 extra-base hits and 19 walks is another major culprit. Over the last five games, Purdue batters have been hit by a pitch (6) more often than they have walked (5).
• Meanwhile, opponents have had a significant advantage in extra-base hits (26 vs. 14) and walks (53 vs. 19). Comparing the Boilermakers' team slash line vs. that of their opponents is not pretty…
• Purdue: .207/.274/.256
• Opponents: .268/.376/.420
• With Purdue pitchers having struck out nine more batters (75 vs. 66) than their counterparts, coupled with the high walk rate, the Boilermakers' above-average infield defense (2 errors on balls in play) has not had a significant impact consistently. The opposition simply isn't putting the ball in play as often as Purdue, but the walks have made up for the edge the Boilermakers have in strikeouts. On top of that, the opposition has enjoyed a big advantage in batting average on balls in play (.314 vs. .252). The mean BABIP is traditionally thought to be .300.
NISLE'S HOME RUN FEATSSurprised some of our biggest supporters by delivering their season tickets.
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) March 8, 2019
Can't wait to start the home season on Tuesday! #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/1I0ypx4Kzd
• With a solo homer in the series finale at Oral Roberts, Ben Nisle accounted for Purdue's first long ball of the season for the second year in a row. With data available since 2005, he's the first Boilermaker to accomplish that feat. Cameron Perkins (2010, 2012) is the only other player to hit Purdue's first homer in multiple seasons. Last year Nisle became the first Boilermaker since Perkins in 2010 to go deep in his collegiate debut.
• Nisle also connected for the Boilermakers' final homer of 2018, teaming up with Jacson McGowan for back-to-back jacks in the NCAA Regional rematch with Houston.
FORGET THE FIRST INNING
• Andrew Bohm and Patrick J. Smith have been much different pitchers after the first inning. All five runs Smith has allowed in 10 1/3 innings as a starting pitcher have come in the first inning. Bohm has been charged with 12 runs over 12 1/3 innings. Eight of those runs have been scored in the first inning. As starting pitchers, their numbers outside the first inning are…
• Smith: 8 1/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 6 K – Retired 25 of 31 batters faced
• Bohm: 9 1/3 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 5 BB, 11 K – Retired 26 of 41 batters faced
RETURNING TEAM LEADERS IN NEUTRAL-SITE ACTION
• The Boilermakers were 12-4 in neutral-site games last season. They swept a season-opening series vs. Western Michigan at the LakePoint Complex in Emerson, Georgia and also enjoyed victorious weekends at tournaments in San Antonio, DeLand, Florida, and Omaha. Among active players, Purdue's top performers in such games included…
• Skyler Hunter: .453/.472/.609 (29-for-64), 6 2B, 2 3B, 14 RBI, 3 BB, 21 R
• Ben Nisle: .283/.349/.472 (15-for-53), 2 2B, 3B, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 6 BB, 7 R
• Tyler Powers: .364/.500/.364 (8-for-22), 2 RBI, 6 BB, 9 R, 2 SB
• Milo Beam: .357/.438/.456 (5-for-14), 2B, BB, 3 R
• Trent Johnson: 6 App, 6 1/3 IP, 2 H, 3 BB, 8 K, 1.42 ERA, .143 B/Avg.
• Andrew Bohm: 4 App, 8 2/3 IP, 9 H, 4 BB, 4 K, 3.12 ERA, .290 B/Avg.
• Bo Hofstra: 8 App, 13 2/3 IP, 9 H, 4 BB, 13 K, 3.29 ERA, .180 B/Avg.
QUICK LOOK AT NJIT
• The Highlanders joined the Atlantic Sun Conference in time for the 2015-16 school year after competing as an independent for their first nine seasons at the Division I level. Robbie McClellan was named the interim head coach in August. He has been part of the staff since the fall of 2011.
• A trio of one-run wins coupled with a 21-5 loss in game 2 of a doubleheader at hitter-friendly Morehead State is the primary reason why NJIT is 5-2-1 despite being outscored 66-61 over the first eight games.
• The Highlanders have two pairs of brothers on their roster. Twins David and Julio Marcano from Katy, Texas, are infielders. Sean and Brett Lubreski from North Plainfield, New Jersey, are pitchers. Sean Lubreski is expected to start on the mound Sunday. Julio Marcano was a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American in 2018 after batting .352 with 14 doubles in 36 games. He's 8-for-21 with eight walks and no strikeouts so far this season, but did not play last weekend at Morehead State.
• Six different players have already homered for NJIT. Paul Franzoni went deep in three of the four games of the season-opening series vs. Eastern Michigan in Hoover, Alabama, already matching his total from 2018. Freshman Brett Helmkamp (12-for-31) has reached base safely in each of the first eight games.
• Each member of the Highlanders' current weekend rotation pitched at least 50 innings last season. Sean Lubreski (16 2/3 IP), Tyler Stafflinger (13 1/3) and Jared Kacso (11 1/3) have been leaned upon heavily early this year, working 41 1/3 of the 71 innings (58 percent) their team has been in the field. They've given up a combined 56 hits, but only seven have gone for extra bases. Hunter Harris has emerged as their most effective reliever, surrendering just four hits and three walks in 7 1/3 innings over his first three appearances. Even while using 16 pitchers already (Purdue has used 12 in 10 games), he is NJIT's only other hurler that has worked more than five innings.