Purdue Hosts Illini for Just 2nd Time at AlexanderPurdue Hosts Illini for Just 2nd Time at Alexander

Purdue Hosts Illini for Just 2nd Time at Alexander

Purdue baseball aims to extend its recent winning ways as it continues its five-game season series with Illinois, hosting the Fighting Illini for just the second time since Alexander Field opened in 2013.

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GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Illinois (10-14) at Purdue (10-15)

Friday, April 23 to Sunday, April 25 / BTN+
Series: Friday, April 23 at 6 p.m. ET
Middle Game: Saturday, April 24 at 2 p.m. ET
Series Finale: Sunday, April 25 at 1 p.m. ET
Alexander Field / West Lafayette, Indiana

PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday: Calvin Schapira (Jr, LHP) vs. Illinois' Andrew Hoffmann (Jr, RHP)
Saturday: Trent Johnson (Jr, RHP) vs. Illinois' Nate Lavender (Jr, LHP)
Sunday: Cory Brooks (R-Jr, RHP) vs. Illinois' Riley Gowens (R-So, RHP)

SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Illinois leads 162-87-1
All-Time in West Lafayette: Illinois leads 65-44-1
Last Weekend in Champaign: Purdue swept a 2-game set
Last Series in West Lafayette: Purdue swept a 3-game set (April 2017)
Current Series Streak in West Lafayette: Purdue has won 6 straight (since 2012)
First Meeting: Illinois 14, Purdue 5 (May 1893 in West Lafayette)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue baseball aims to extend its recent winning ways as it continues its five-game season series with Illinois, hosting the Fighting Illini for just the second time since Alexander Field opened in 2013.

First pitch is slated for Friday at 6 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m. In the event of a rain out Saturday, a doubleheader would be played Sunday. Per limited-capacity guidelines, Purdue has been issuing 500 tickets per game. All tickets are accounted for each game this weekend. In the event of a rain out Saturday, all tickets will be refunded. One ticket would be good for either/both games of a potential Sunday doubleheader, but additional tickets will not be made available.

A new padded outfield wall was installed at Alexander Field earlier this month and makes its gameday debut this weekend.

The Boilermakers won their first two meetings with Illinois last weekend as part of their 4-0 showing in Champaign, the program's seventh 4-0 weekend this century. Purdue has also won six of its last seven games and is 7-4 in April. The Boilermakers have not played five consecutive games against the same team since opening the 1987 season with five in a row at NC State. Samford, in 2013, was the last opponent they played five times in a season.

However, Purdue and Illinois have played each other five times in a season four times (1997, 2000, 2001, 2006) dating back to 1997. All of those instances included a four-game regular-season series plus a meeting at the Big Ten Tournament. The Boilermakers also play Minnesota five times, but not all five games consecutively, next month.

Illinois is part of a trio of Big Ten rivals – along with Maryland and Indiana – that has only played one weekend series at Alexander Field since the ballpark opened in 2013. Purdue swept the low-scoring, three-game set in April 2017, tallying only 10 runs in the process. The Fighting Illini managed only four runs on 17 hits in the series, posting a .179 team batting average. They also didn't have a sacrifice bunt or sacrifice fly while also attempting just three stolen bases over the three games.

Even though both Alexander Field and Illinois Field face in a northeast direction, Alexander is traditionally more of a pitcher's ballpark and Illinois Field is generally friendlier to hitters. Purdue won both low-scoring (2-1 vs. MSU) and high-scoring affairs (20-6) last weekend in Champaign. Prior to last weekend, the home team had won 17 of the last 18 regular-season meetings in the Purdue-Illinois series dating back to 2012.
 
FEWEST GAMES AT ALEXANDER AMONG BIG TEN TEAMS (SINCE 2013)
Team Games Opponent Record Last Visit
Illinois 3 0-3 April 2017
Maryland 3 3-0 April 2015
Indiana 4 1-3 April 2018
Michigan State 6 4-2 May 2019
Nebraska 6 6-0 March 2016

Because Michigan State was also part of last weekend's three-team pod in Champaign, the only repeat pitching matchup this weekend is Sunday with Cory Brooks and Riley Gowens taking the mound again. Meanwhile, Illinois' Friday starter, Andrew Hoffmann, returned to the rotation last weekend vs. MSU after missing two starts. For Purdue, Calvin Schapira has started the opening game of the last three weekends dating back to April 2. Trent Johnson has also responded with 20 innings of seven-run ball, with 23 strikeouts vs 16 hits allowed, since getting roughed up by Rutgers in the March 26 home opener.

DEFEATED 2 DIFFERENT TEAMS ON SAME DAY (SINCE 1990)
April 18, 2021 – Michigan State (8-3) & Illinois (6-4) in Champaign, Illinois
Feb. 23, 2018 – Saint Louis (5-2) & Incarnate Word (5-4 in 10 Innings) in San Antonio, Texas
Feb. 18, 2012 – Connecticut (9-4 in Clearwater, Florida) & Cincinnati (6-0 in St. Petersburg, Florida)
March 1, 2003 – Detroit Mercy (14-3) & Boston College (1-0) in Homestead, Florida
Feb. 24, 1996 – TCU (5-0) & Texas-Pan American (8-2) in Edinburg, Texas
March 11, 1993 – Florida State (11-1 in DeLand, Florida) & Rollins College (7-4 in Orlando, Florida)

PITCHERS EXCELLED IN OFFENSIVE BALLPARK WHILE PURDUE SCORED 36 RUNS
Perhaps overshadowed by Monday's 20-run outburst, Purdue's first in a Big Ten game since 2006, was the fact that the pitching staff surrendered only 24 hits over 38 innings during the 4-0 weekend in Champaign. The staff racked up 30-plus strikeouts in a four-game weekend for the third time this year, but this time the Boilermakers did it while giving up only 14 runs. The opposition's hits and runs totals were both the fewest in a four-game weekend since Purdue won three of four vs. Cal State Northridge (6 runs on 24 hits) at Alexander Field to close the 2016 season. Most impressively, the pitching staff did it in a ballpark that produced 90 runs over the course of the six games played at Illinois Field last weekend.
 
FEWEST HITS ALLOWED IN 4-GAME SERIES/WEEKEND (SINCE 2001)
Year Opponent(s) Hits Allowed Innings H/9 Results
2006 at Iowa 18 31 5.23 Split 2-2
2005 Minnesota 19 32 5.34 Won All 4
2008 Western Illinois 22 36 5.50 Won All 4
2001 Iowa 20 32 5.63 Won 3 of 4
2021 vs MSU / at ILL 24 38 5.68 Won All 4
2016 Cal State Northridge 24 37 5.84 Won 3 of 4
2018 at San Antonio Tournament 25 36 1/3 6.19 Won 3 of 4
2019 at Texas 25 33 6.82 Lost 3 of 4
2006 Michigan State 25 32 7.03 Won 3 of 4
2018 at Big Ten Tournament 30 35 7.71 Won 3 of 4
2017 at Santa Clara 31 36 7.75 Won All 4
2007 Indiana 28 32 7.88 Won 3 of 4



THREE LEFTIES HOMER IN SAME GAME FOR FIRST TIME IN AT LEAST 20 YEARS
Purdue's 20-run outburst Monday was made possible in part by three different Boilermakers going deep to right field with runners on base. Miles Simington, Zac Fascia and Jeremy Schork, all left-handed hitters, each connected for their first home runs of the season. It marked the first time since April 2017 that three different Purdue players homered in a game. In the BBCOR bat era (since 2011), it has only happened seven times. Meanwhile, going back to 2001, another game could not be found in which three lefties all went deep.
Schork joined Cam Thompson as Boilermakers to hit a grand slam this season. Both slams came in the ninth inning and are a big reason why Purdue has scored 33 runs (including 13 last weekend in Champaign) in the ninth inning this year, already the program's third most since 2001. The Boilermakers had not hit multiple grand slams in a season since 2016. Dating back to Miles Simington's grand slam during the opening weekend of the abbreviated 2020 campaign, each of Purdue's last three grand slams have doubled as the first home run for that Boilermaker.
 
3 DIFFERENT BOILERMAKERS TO HOMER IN A GAME (BBCOR BAT ERA, 2011-PR)
Date Opponent Boilermakers Style of Home Runs Game Result
4/19/2021 at Illinois Miles Simington
Zac Fascia
Jeremy Schork
2-Run HR in 1st
3-Run HR in 2nd
Grand Slam in 9th
W, 20-6
4/09/2017 Indiana Jacson McGowan
Bryce Bonner
Nick Dalesandro
Solo HR in 2nd
Solo HR in 8th
Grand Slam in 9th
L, 14-9
3/05/2017 at SE Missouri Jacson McGowan
Nick Dalesandro
John LeGare
2-Run HR in 4th
Solo HR in 6th
2-Run HR in 7th
L, 17-7
3/04/2017 at SE Missouri Harry Shipley
Nick Dalesandro
Alec Olund
John LeGare
Solo HR in 4th
2-Run HR in 8th
2-Run HR in 8th
2-Run HR in 9th
W, 13-5
2/18/2017 at Texas State Mike Madej
Jacson McGowan
Logan Posiall
2-Run HR in 1st
Solo HR in 1st
Solo HR in 1st
W, 12-8
5/17/2012 at Iowa Cameron Perkins
Cameron Perkins
Sean McHugh
Ryan Bridges
Solo HR in 1st
3-Run HR in 2nd
Solo HR in 3rd
Solo HR in 5th
W, 11-8
3/18/2011 at Tennessee Tech David Miller
Ryan Bridges
Tyler Spillner
3-Run HR in 1st
2-Run HR in 3rd
2-Run HR in 4th
W, 13-3
 
PURDUE'S MOST 9TH INNING RUNS (SINCE 2001)
Season Runs in 9th Inning Games Batted in 9th 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
2021 33 21 10-15
2-4/4-3/4-8
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
 
PURDUE GRAND SLAMS (SINCE 2006)
Date Boilermaker Opponent Location Inning Game Result
4/19/2021 Jeremy Schork* Illinois Champaign, Ill. T-9th W, 20-6
3/26/2021 Cam Thompson* Rutgers Alexander Field B-9th L, 7-5
2/15/2020 Miles Simington* Hofstra Sanford, Fla. B-8th W, 10-4
4/09/2017 Nick Dalesandro Indiana Alexander Field B-9th L, 14-9
3/23/2016 Kyle Wood Louisville Alexander Field B-6th L, 9-4
3/22/2016 Kyle Johnson Ball State Muncie, Ind. T-2nd L, 9-8
3/05/2016 Kyle Johnson East Tennessee St. Johnson City, Tenn. T-7th W, 19-6
3/20/2015 Jack Picchiotti Rutgers Alexander Field B-7th W, 9-5
3/15/2015 Ted Snidanko* Northern Illinois Westfield, Ind. B-6th W, 23-5
3/15/2013 Sean McHugh Michigan Ann Arbor, Mich. T-6th W, 12-9
4/27/2012 Barrett Serrato Michigan State Lambert Field B-4th W, 6-2
2/19/2012 Cameron Perkins Notre Dame St. Petersburg, Fla. T-6th W, 15-8
4/16/2010 Drew Madia Penn State Lambert Field B-2nd W, 18-7
4/06/2010 Dominick D'Agata* Valparaiso Lambert Field B-7th W, 14-5
5/14/2009 Drew Madia Illinois Lambert Field B-8th W, 12-5
4/01/2009 Drew Madia Purdue Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, Ind. T-3rd L, 22-19
4/19/2008 Dan Black Ohio State Columbus, Ohio T-3rd W, 8-0
4/11/2008 Eric Nielsen Penn State Lambert Field B-8th W, 13-8
4/06/2008 Dan Black Iowa Iowa City, Iowa T-2nd W, 16-3
3/23/2008 Kyle Reesing Western Illinois Lambert Field B-6th W, 22-10
5/19/2007 Dan Black at Northwestern Evanston, Ill. T-5th L, 9-6
4/28/2007 Ryne White Ohio State Lambert Field B-5th W, 16-0
4/16/2006 Neal Gorka Indiana Bloomington, Ind. T-2nd W, 25-8
4/14/2006 Neal Gorka Indiana Bloomington, Ind. T-6th L, 8-4
*First Home Run as a Boilermaker
 
PURDUE'S 4-0 WEEKENDS (SINCE 1990)
Dates Opponent(s) Location Run Differential Game Scores
4/17-19/2021 Michigan State &
Illinois
Champaign, Ill. +22 2-1 (11) vs MSU
8-3 vs MSU
6-4 at ILL
20-6 at ILL
3/16-18/2017 Santa Clara Santa Clara, Calif. +17 12-4
3-0
8-7
10-5
4/25-27/2008 Minnesota Lambert Field +9 6-2
7-6
7-5
6-4
3/22-23/2008 Western Illinois Lambert Field +35 6-0
8-0
11-2
22-10
4/29-5/1/2005 Minnesota Lambert Field +14 5-2
6-2
3-0
7-3
4/6-8/2001 Northwestern Evanston, Ill. +22 4-2
9-5
20-11
10-3
4/21-23/2000 Illinois Lambert Field +20 4-3
9-2
7-2
10-3
5/2-4/1997 Indiana Lambert Field &
Bloomington, Ind.
+9 8-5
5-4
13-11
8-5
3/11-15/1993 Florida State
Rollins College
Penn
South Florida
DeLand, Fla.
Orlando, Fla.
Winter Park, Fla.
Tampa, Fla.
+22 11-1
7-4
7-4
6-2
5/9-10/1992 Indiana Bloomington, Ind.
& Lambert Field
+21 8-0
4-3
9-0
7-4
3/23-24/1991 Ball State Lambert Field &
Muncie, Ind.
+26 11-0
9-1
12-6
5-4
 
20-RUN OUTBURSTS (SINCE 1990)
Date Runs Opponent Location Final
3/09/1991 36 Boston Univ. Boca Raton, Fla. 36-16
5/08/2018 27 Purdue Fort Wayne (IPFW) Alexander Field 27-3
4/25/2000 27 IUPUI Lambert Field 27-5
4/16/2006 25 Indiana Bloomington, Ind. 25-8
3/15/2015 23 Northern Illinois Westfield, Ind. 23-5
3/10/2012 22 Murray State Murray, Ky. 22-1
3/23/2008 22 Western Illinois Lambert Field 22-10
4/12/1997 22 Michigan State Lambert Field 22-3
3/26/1992 22 Ferris State Lambert Field 22-10
4/19/2021 20 Illinois Champaign, Ill. 20-6
4/24/2013 20 Illinois-Chicago Alexander Field 20-0
5/11/2003 20 Indiana Bloomington, Ind. 20-4
4/07/2001 20 Northwestern Evanston, Ill. 20-11
 
MOST PROLIFIC 9TH-INNING RALLIES (SINCE 2001)
Date Opponent Runs in 9th Score Entering 9th Final
5/06/2012 at UCLA 10 Trailed 10-5 W, 15-11
3/10/2012 at Murray State 8 Led 14-1 W, 22-1
3/20/2011 at Tennessee Tech 7 Tied 4-4 W, 12-4
3/27/2021 Rutgers 7 Trailed 4-0 W, 7-4
4/17/2002 at Eastern Illinois 7 Trailed 8-5 W, 12-10
2/24/2001 vs Illinois State 7 Trailed 11-2 L, 11-9
4/19/2021 at Illinois 6 Led 14-6 W, 20-6
5/13/2007 Iowa 6 Trailed 10-3 L, 10-9
5/09/2018 at Ball State 5 Trailed 8-5 W, 10-8
2/25/2018 vs Notre Dame 5 Trailed 7-3 W, 8-7
5/10/2009 at Michigan State 5 Led 4-3 W, 9-8
3/01/2003 vs Detroit Mercy 5 Led 9-3 W, 14-3
Special Mentions – Games Shorter Than 9 Innings
4/28/2009 at Ball State 5 in 8th Led 9-6 W, 14-6 (8 – Rain)
4/26/2008 Minnesota 4 in 7th Trailed 6-3 W, 7-6 (7 – B1G DH)
3/30/2002 at Penn State 5 in 7th Trailed 2-1 W, 6-3 (7 – B1G DH)
 
NEUTRAL SITE WALK-OFFS (SINCE 1999)
Date Opponent Location Score (Innings) GW RBI GW Run
4/18/2021 Michigan State Champaign, Ill. 2-1 (11) Evan Albrecht Ben Nisle
3/5/2021 Nebraska Round Rock, Texas 6-5 (9) Zac Fascia Ben Nisle
3/9/2019 NJIT Marion, N.C. 9-8 (9) Cole McKenzie Tyler Powers
5/24/2018 Michigan* Omaha, Neb. 5-4 (9) Evan Warden Milo Beam
2/23/2018 Incarnate Word San Antonio, Texas 5-4 (10) Nick Dalesandro Skyler Hunter
3/19/2016 Ohio Kokomo, Ind. 5-4 (15) Alec Olund Nick Dalesandro
2/21/2015 Sam Houston St. Corpus Christi, Texas 4-3 (12) Michael Vilardo Alec Olund
2/20/2009 Cincinnati Clearwater, Fla. 11-10 (9) Dan Black Ben Wolgamot
5/27/2005 Illinois* Champaign, Ill. 4-3 (11) John Hunter Eric Wolfe
3/1/2003 Boston College Homestead, Fla. 1-0 (9) Daniel Underwood Nick McIntyre
3/19/1999 Rider Homestand, Fla. 6-5 (10) Ryan Cole Ryan Cole
*Big Ten Tournament Game (Illinois hosted in 2005, but Purdue was designated home team)
 
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
2021 vs MSU / at ILL 33 38 7.82 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
 
ACTIVE BOILERMAKERS TO HIT SAFELY IN ALL 4 GAMES OF A SERIES/WEEKEND
Skyler Hunter – 6 Times

2021 at Champaign Pod: 8-for-19, 2B, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 7 R, SB
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 – 3 Times
2021 at Champaign Pod: 4-for-15, HR, 5 RBI, 4 BB, HBP, 5 R, Sac Fly, 2 SB
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 – 3 Times
2021 at Champaign Pod: 7-for-20, 2 2B, HR, 7 RBI, BB, 3 R, SB, 0 K
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

PLAYED 5 TIMES IN SAME SEASON (SINCE 1997)
The Big Ten played four-game weekend series from 1981 to 2008
2021 vs Illinois – TBD
2021 vs Minnesota – TBD
2013 vs Samford – Lost 4 of 5
2010 vs Iowa – Lost all 5
2008 vs Indiana – Lost 3 of 5
2008 vs Penn State – Won 4 of 5
2006 vs Ohio State – Lost 4 of 5
2006 vs Illinois – Won 3 of 5
2006 vs Northwestern – Lost 3 of 5
2005 vs Ohio State – Lost 4 of 5
2005 vs Minnesota – Won 4 of 5
2005 vs Michigan – Won 3 of 5
2004 vs Michigan State – Won 4 of 5
2004 vs Minnesota – Lost 4 of 5
2004 vs Ohio State – Lost 3 of 5
2001 vs Illinois – Won 3 of 5
2000 vs Illinois – Won 4 of 5
1997 vs Illinois – Won 3 of 5