Boilermakers Visit Champaign for Another 3-Team PodBoilermakers Visit Champaign for Another 3-Team Pod

Boilermakers Visit Champaign for Another 3-Team Pod

Purdue baseball hits the road again for another three-team pod weekend, squaring off twice against both Michigan State and Illinois in the Land of Lincoln this weekend.

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GAMEDAY INFORMATION: 3-TEAM POD
Purdue (6-15) and Michigan State (11-11) at Illinois (8-12)

Friday, April 16 to Monday, April 19 / BTN+
Purdue vs. MSU: Saturday at 6 p.m. & Sunday at 1 p.m. ET
Purdue vs. Illinois: Sunday at 5 p.m. & Monday at 4 p.m. ET
Illinois Field / Champaign, Illinois

PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Saturday vs. MSU: Calvin Schapira (Jr, LHP) vs. Mason Erla (R-Jr, RHP)
Sunday vs. MSU: Trent Johnson (Sr, RHP) vs. Jesse Heikkinen (Jr, LHP)
Sunday vs. ILL: Cory Brooks (R-Jr, RHP) vs. Riley Gowens (Fr, RHP)
Monday vs. ILL: TBA for both teams

SERIES HISTORY
Purdue vs. Michigan State
All-Time: MSU leads 86-73
All-Time at a Neutral Site: Purdue leads 2-1
Last Neutral-Site Meeting: MSU 7, Purdue 1 (2011 Big Ten Tournament in Columbus)
Purdue's Last Series Win vs. MSU: Purdue won 2 of 3 (April 2012 in West Lafayette)
First Meeting: Purdue 6, MSU 3 (1949 in West Lafayette)
Purdue vs. Illinois
All-Time: Illinois leads 162-85-1
All-Time in Champaign: Illinois leads 95-39
Last Series: Illinois swept a 3-game set (May 2019 in Champaign)
Purdue's Last Series Win: Purdue swept a 3-game set (April 2017 in West Lafayette)
Purdue's Last Series Win in Champaign: Purdue won 2 of 3 (May 2010)
First Meeting: Illinois 14, Purdue 5 (1893 in West Lafayette)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue baseball hits the road again for another three-team pod weekend, squaring off twice against both Michigan State and Illinois in the Land of Lincoln this weekend.

The Boilermakers play MSU on Saturday at 6 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. They take on the Fighting Illini on Sunday at 5 p.m. and Monday at 4 p.m. ET.

It marks the second weekend in a row Purdue plays two different teams as part of a doubleheader while also taking the field on a Monday. Prior to last weekend, the Boilermakers' last two-opponent doubleheader was in February 2018 and their last Monday game was in March 2017.

From April 11 to 25, Purdue's schedule features nine consecutive games against just two opponents. The unique stretch is comprised of four in a row vs. Michigan State (2 in East Lansing, 2 in Champaign) and five consecutive contests vs. Illinois (2 in Champaign, 3 in West Lafayette). Since the start of the 2018 season, Purdue and Illinois have only played four times.

The Boilermakers have never played MSU in a regular-season neutral-site game before. However, they do have a walk-off win in Champaign and it came against the Fighting Illini. Illinois hosted the 2005 Big Ten Tournament as the league's regular-season champion, but home-team designation was still divvied up evenly after the opening round. That's how Purdue beat the Illini on an 11th-inning walk-off in a day 3 loser's bracket game. Eric Wolfe scored the game-winning run on John Hunter's base hit through the right side after the right fielder misplayed the ball. But it was pitcher Jay Buente that had the unique stat line that day in Champaign. The future big leaguer worked six shutout innings of four-hit relief and he did it without striking out a batter.

The Boilermakers are scheduled to be the home team Saturday vs. Michigan State and the visitor in the other three games.

SIX RIDING STREAKS
Zac Fascia had nine productive plate appearances in 15 trips to the dish during a 6-for-12 showing last weekend in East Lansing. Tyler Powers and Fascia hit safely in all four games of the weekend and are among a group of six Boilermakers currently riding notable streaks.
Powers hit safely in all four games of a series/weekend for the first time in his career, becoming the sixth active Boilermaker to accomplish the feat. He has hit safely in 12 of the last 13 games during his team-best and career-long 15-game reached base safely streak.
Fascia did it for the second time this season and third time at Purdue. He did it while not striking out for the second time as a Boilermaker. Ben Nisle and Skyler Hunter are the only other active players to hit safely in all four games of a weekend without striking out.
With a 13-for-27 showing since March 28, Fascia has raised his batting average .134 points from .188 to .322.

ACTIVE STREAKS
Tyler Powers – 15-game reached base safely (6-game hit)
Ben Nisle – 10-game reached base safely
Miles Simington – 10-game reached base safely
Skyler Hunter – 8-game reached base safely
Zac Fascia – 6-game hit
Mason Gavre – 6-game reached base safely

ACTIVE BOILERMAKERS TO HIT SAFELY IN ALL 4 GAMES OF A SERIES/WEEKEND
Skyler Hunter – 5 Times

2018 at Big Ten Tournament: 8-for-17, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 5 R, Sac Fly
2018 at San Antonio Tournament: 5-for-16, 2 2B, 5 RBI, BB, 4 R, Sac Fly
2017 at Santa Clara: 5-for-13, 2B, 6 RBI, 2 BB, HBP, 2 R, 2 Sac Flies, Sac Bunt, SB
2017 at Cal State Northridge: 7-for-14, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB, 5 R, Sac Fly, SB
2017 at Texas State: 7-for-15, 4 RBI, BB, HBP, 3 R, SB, 0 K
Zac Fascia – 3 Times
2021 at East Lansing Pod: 6-for-12, 2B, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 4 R, Sac Fly, 0 K
2021 vs Nebraska: 4-for-12, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB, HBP, 2 R, Sac Fly
2020 vs Hofstra: 7-for-14, 2 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, 2 HBP, 6 R, 2 Sac Flies, 0 K
Ben Nisle – 2 Times
2021 vs Michigan: 6-for-15, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, HBP, 3 R, 0 K
2019 at Texas: 6-for-16, 2 2B, RBI, HBP, R, SB
Miles Simington – 2 Times
2021 vs Michigan: 5-for-14, 2 BB, 2 R, SB
2021 vs Nebraska: 5-for-11, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, 2 HBP, R, Sac Fly
Tyler Powers – 1st Time this Year
2021 at East Lansing Pod: 5-for-17, 2 2B, RBI, HBP, 3 R, Sac Bunt
Evan Albrecht – 1st Time this Year
2021 vs Michigan: 4-for-15, 2B, RBI, BB, R, SB



SIMINGTON GOES 51 PLATE APPEARANCES WITHOUT A STRIKEOUT
As Purdue's most consistent hitter this season, Miles Simington has also been the toughest Boilermaker to strike out. However, of his nine strikeouts, eight came in the first nine games of the season. March 19 through April 11, Simington went 44 consecutive at-bats and 51 straight plate appearances without going down on strikes. He became just the eighth Boilermaker since 2008 with a streak of at least 50 consecutive plate appearances without a K. Simington was 15-for-44 with seven doubles during his no-strikeouts streak.
Ben Nisle also accomplished the feat during his memorable second-half surge in 2018, helping him become a unanimous selection for the Big Ten All-Freshman Team.
 
LONGEST STREAKS WITHOUT A STRIKEOUT (SINCE 2008)
Season Player Games At-Bats Plate Appearances
2008 Ryne White 16 66 76
2012 Kevin Plawecki 14 58 69
2008 Jon Moore 15 49 58
2012 David Miller 13 47 56
2012 David Miller 12 42 54
2012 Kevin Plawecki 12 46 53
2018 Ben Nisle 13 45 52
2012 Stephen Talbott 13 46 51
2021 Miles Simington 10 44 51
2011 Eric Charles 12 42 51
2013 Jack Picchiotti 13 44 49
2015 Cody Strong 11 39 48
2013 Conner Hudnall 9 45 45

THE GOOD STRIKEOUTS
Led by Trent Johnson's 10 strikeouts over six innings Sunday vs. Penn State, Purdue racked up 39 Ks over 35 innings in the four games in East Lansing last weekend. That's the program's third most in a four-game weekend since 2001. The Boilermakers already set what is believed to be a team record with 46 strikeouts in the season-opening, four-game series vs. Nebraska.
Johnson's career mark of 9.72 strikeouts per nine innings is best all-time among Boilermakers with a minimum 125 career innings. With 10-strikeout outings vs. Northwestern (2019) and Penn State, he's also just the ninth Purdue pitcher since 2001 with multiple double-figure strikeout totals. As a team, the Boilermakers only had one individual 10-K performance from 2013 to 2018.
Jett Jackson struck out 10 vs. Nebraska in his season debut this year. Jackson and Johnson have teamed up to give the Boilermakers two different pitchers with a 10-K performance in the same season for the first time since 2010.
 
MOST STRIKEOUTS IN A 4-GAME SERIES/WEEKEND (SINCE 2001)
Year Opponent(s) Strikeouts Innings K/9 Results
2021 vs Nebraska 46 32 12.94 Lost 3 of 4
2006 Northwestern 41 32 11.53 Split 2-2
2021 vs PSU / at MSU 39 35 10.03 Split 2-2
2017 at Santa Clara 35 36 8.75 Won All 4
2017 at Texas State 33 34 2/3 8.57 Split 2-2
2011 at Morehead State 32 35 2/3 8.07 Won 3 of 4
2020 vs Hofstra 31 36 7.75 Won 3 of 4
2019 at Texas 31 33 8.45 Lost 3 of 4
2004 Michigan State 31 32 8.72 Won 3 of 4
2007 Iowa 30 32 8.44 Split 2-2
 
INDIVIDUAL DOUBLE-FIGURE STRIKEOUT GAMES (SINCE 2010)
Season Pitcher Opponent Strikeouts Batters Faced Innings K/9 Result
2021 Trent Johnson vs Penn State 10 26 6 15.0 W, 8-5
2021 Jett Jackson vs Nebraska 10 20 4 1/3 20.78 L, 4-0
2019 Trent Johnson at Northwestern 10 15 4 1/3 20.78 L, 2-1
2017 Tanner Andrews at Santa Clara 10 27 7 2/3 11.74 W, 3-0
2012 Lance Breedlove at Ohio State 10 34 9 10.0 W, 8-1
2012 Lance Breedlove vs Cincinnati 11 24 7 14.14 W, 6-0
2011 Matt Morgan at Lipscomb 10 32 9 10.0 W, 1-0
2010 Matt Bischoff Northwestern 10 33 8 11.25 W, 2-1
2010 Matt Bischoff Penn State 10 26 6 15.0 W, 18-7
2010 Matt Bischoff Minnesota 10 32 9 10.0 W, 3-2
2010 Matt Morgan at Ohio 14 31 7 2/3 16.43 W, 6-2
2010 Matt Bischoff vs Le Moyne 11 28 8 12.38 W, 3-0
 
CAREER DOUBLE-FIGURE STRIKEOUT PERFORMANCES (SINCE 2001)
* -- Neutral-Site Game
8 – Matt Bischoff, 2007-10
• Career High & Most Dominant: 12 vs Mississippi Valley State*, 2009 (28 Batters Faced, 43%)
3 – Matt Morgan, 2008-11
• Career High & Most Dominant: 14 at Ohio, 2010 (31 Batters Faced, 45%)
3 – Dan Sattler, 2004-07
• Career High: 12 vs Northwestern, 2006; Most Dominant: 10 vs. Chicago State, 2006 (26 Batters Faced, 38%)
3 – Scott Byrnes, 2002-05
• Career High: 11 on Two Occasions in 2004; Most Dominant: 11 vs Indiana, 2004 (26 Batters Faced, 42%)
3 – Chadd Blasko, 2000-02
• Career High & Most Dominant: 15 vs Miami (Ohio), 2002 (30 Batters Faced, 50%)
2 – Trent Johnson, 2018-Pr
• Career High & Most Dominant: 10 at Northwestern, 2019 (15 Batters Faced, 67%)
2 – Lance Breedlove, 2011-12
• Career High & Most Dominant: 11 vs Cincinnati*, 2012 (24 Batters Faced, 46%)
2 – Jay Buente, 2003-06
• Career High: 11 at Louisiana, 2006; Most Dominant: 10 vs. Northwestern (21 Batters Faced, 48%)
2 – Matt Jansen, 2007-10
• Career High: 11 at Evansville, 2009; Most Dominant: 10 at Evansville, 2010 (29 Batters Faced, 34%)
1 – Jett Jackson, 2020-Pr
• Career High: 10 vs Nebraska*, 2021 (20 Batters Faced, 50%)
1 – Tanner Andrews, 2015-18
• Career High: 10 at Santa Clara, 2017 (27 Batters Faced, 37%)
1 – Ben Quick, 2000-01
• Career High: 10 at Troy State*, 2001 (32 Batters Faced, 31%)
1 – David Gassner, 1998-01
• Career High: 10 vs Penn State, 2001 (33 Batters Faced, 30%)
 
PURDUE'S MOST 9TH-INNING RUNS (SINCE 2001)
Season Runs in 9th Inning Games Purdue Batted in 9th Inning Record
Home/Away/Neutral
2012 39 42 45-14
13-3/20-8/12-3
2009 35 42 25-26
9-8/12-12/4-6
2011 31 43 37-20
14-4/19-13/4-3
2018 30 39 38-21
15-5/11-12/12-4
2017 30 50 29-27
10-10/18-15/1-2
2013 26 46 17-34
5-14/9-17/3-3
2010 25 41 33-24
15-6/15-11/3-7
2001 24 35 32-24
10-6/21-11/1-7
Worth Watching…
2021 20 17 6-15
2-4/2-3/2-8