GAMEDAY INFORMATION: 3-TEAM POD
Purdue (4-13) and Penn State (6-11) at Michigan State (9-9)
Friday, April 9 to Monday, April 12 / BTN+
PSU-MSU Doubleheader: Friday at 2 p.m. ET
Purdue vs. PSU: Saturday at 10 a.m. & Sunday at Noon
Purdue vs. MSU: Sunday at 4 p.m. & Monday at 3 p.m.
McLane Baseball Stadium at Kobs Field / East Lansing, Michigan
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Saturday vs. PSU: Calvin Schapira (Jr, LHP) vs. Kyle Virbitsky (Jr, RHP)
Sunday vs. PSU: Trent Johnson (Sr, RHP) vs. TBA
Sunday vs. MSU: Jackson Smeltz (R-So, LHP) vs. Nick Powers (Fr, LHP)
Monday vs. MSU: TBA for both teams
SERIES HISTORY
Purdue vs. Penn State
All-Time: Purdue leads 50-32
Current Series Streak: Purdue has won 5 straight
All-Time at a Neutral Site: Purdue leads 3-0
Last Series: Purdue swept a 2-game set (March 2019 in West Lafayette)
Last Neutral-Site Meeting: Purdue 7, PSU 2 (2011 Big Ten Tournament in Columbus)
First Meeting: Purdue 4, PSU 2 (1983 in Lakeland, Florida)
Purdue vs. Michigan State
All-Time: MSU leads 85-72
All-Time in East Lansing: MSU leads 43-27
Last Series: MSU won 2 of 3 (May 2019 in West Lafayette)
Last Series in East Lansing: MSU won 2 of 3 (May 2015)
Purdue's Last Series Win vs. MSU: Purdue won 2 of 3 (April 2012 in West Lafayette)
Purdue's Last Series Win in East Lansing: Purdue won 2 of 3 (May 2009)
First Meeting: Purdue 6, MSU 3 (1949 in West Lafayette)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue baseball's first trip to the state of Michigan since 2015 doubles as the first of consecutive three-team pod weekends for the Boilermakers as they take on Penn State and Michigan State at the Spartans' McLane Stadium.
Purdue plays Penn State on Saturday at 10 a.m. and Sunday at noon ET. Purdue-Michigan State matchups are slated for Sunday at 4 p.m. and Monday at 3 p.m. Coincidentally, both opponents are also part of the Boilermakers' future three-team pods later this season.
Due to rain in the forecast, Penn State and Michigan State opted to play a doubleheader Friday at 2 p.m., which in turn led to Saturday game moving up to 10 a.m. Purdue is slated to be the home team Saturday vs. Penn State and the visiting team Sunday.
The Boilermakers have not played a game in the state of Michigan since winning the finale of their May 2015 series at Michigan State. They were scheduled to open and close the Big Ten season in Ann Arbor and East Lansing last year prior to the shutdown. Purdue has played 260 games in 24 different states since its last game in Michigan.
Meanwhile, the Boilermakers and Spartans have only played six games against each other since the start of the 2016 campaign. With Purdue and MSU also in the same three-team pod next weekend in Champaign, the Boilermakers are scheduled to play four consecutive games against the Spartans over a week's time.
Pitchers Eric Hildebrand (Chesterfield) and Calvin Starnes (Coloma) return to their home state this weekend. Hildebrand was a busy man during Purdue's six-game homestand, becoming the first Boilermaker since Bo Hofstra in March 2019 to pitch in four consecutive games. Over his four appearances at Alexander Field, he conceded only two hits vs. 16 batters faced, allowed only one of five inherited base runners to score and escaped a pair of bases-loaded jams in the Iowa series.
THE LAST TIME
• Purdue did not play on a Friday during a weekend: Won 2 of 3 vs. NJIT (March 2019 in Marion, N.C.)
• Purdue played on a Monday: Won 9-3 at Cal State Northridge (March 2017)
• Purdue played a regular-season neutral-site game vs. Penn State: Won 4-2 (March 1983 in Lakeland, Fla.)
• Purdue played 2 different teams (& only 2) during a regular-season weekend: Won vs. Butler, Lost vs. Samford (March 1, 2014 Doubleheader in Birmingham, Ala.)
RECENT MONDAY GAMES
• March 13, 2017 – Won 9-3 at Cal State Northridge
• April 13, 2015 – Lost 2-1 at Illinois
• March 17, 2014 – Lost 6-5 in 10 innings at San Diego State
• Feb. 17, 2014 – Lost 8-2 at Tennessee
• March 1, 2010 – Lost 18-14 vs. West Virginia (in Clearwater, Fla.)
STRUGGLES PERSIST IN BIG TEN RUBBER GAMES
• Rubber games won't be a factor over the next two weekends as Purdue plays four games at both of its three-team pods. The Boilermakers have had an opportunity to win four of their first five series this season, but they've dropped a rubber game each of the last three weekends. Since mid-April 2019, the program has lost six straight Big Ten rubber games. Purdue has also lost 10 of its last 11 Big Ten rubber games since mid-April 2017 and is just 8-26 in Big Ten rubber games since the beginning of the 2010 campaign. Three of those losses have come at the hands of Michigan State and are part of the reason why the Boilermakers have not won a series vs. MSU since April 2012.
• Coincidentally, Purdue went 5-0 in Big Ten rubber games in 2009, including a rubber game win in East Lansing.
SIMINGTON STREAKS INTO SELECT COMPANY
• Miles Simington placed his name among some select company with a pair of notable streaks during the six-game homestand. He joined current big leaguer Kevin Plawecki (2012) as the only Boilermakers since 2001 with a double in five consecutive games. Simington is also just one of 10 Purdue players since 2001 with an extra-base hit in five straight contests.
• Simington also had two hits in each of the first four games of the six-game homestand, finishing his first action at Alexander Field 11-for-26 with six doubles, four RBI and five runs scored over the six games. He was just the ninth Boilermaker since 2013 with multiple hits in at least four straight games.
IOWA COULDN'T KEEP CAM OFF BASE
• Cam Thompson also caught fire on the back half of the six-game homestand. He reached base safely in seven of his nine plate appearances vs. Iowa, becoming just the eighth Boilermaker since 2016 to reach safely in 70% of his plate appearances in a series (minimum 8 PAs). However, three other active Boilermakers – Tyler Powers, Ben Nisle, Ryan Howe – plus assistant coach Harry Shipley have also accomplished the feat.
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
• Over its first 17 games, Purdue has scored 17 of its 63 runs (27%) in the ninth inning. Even with only a 44-game regular-season schedule this year, the Boilermakers are already halfway to becoming just the sixth Purdue team since 2001 with at least 30 runs in the ninth inning.
• The ninth inning has been the team's most productive frame, with only the third inning (16 runs) being close entering weekend No. 6. Three of Purdue's five biggest rallies have been in the ninth inning this season – seven vs. Rutgers (March 27), four vs. Rutgers (March 26) and three vs. Iowa (April 4).
PURDUE'S MOST RUNS IN THE NINTH INNING (SINCE 2001)
• 2012: 39
• 2009: 35
• 2011: 31
• 2018: 30
• 2017: 30
Purdue (4-13) and Penn State (6-11) at Michigan State (9-9)
Friday, April 9 to Monday, April 12 / BTN+
PSU-MSU Doubleheader: Friday at 2 p.m. ET
Purdue vs. PSU: Saturday at 10 a.m. & Sunday at Noon
Purdue vs. MSU: Sunday at 4 p.m. & Monday at 3 p.m.
McLane Baseball Stadium at Kobs Field / East Lansing, Michigan
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Saturday vs. PSU: Calvin Schapira (Jr, LHP) vs. Kyle Virbitsky (Jr, RHP)
Sunday vs. PSU: Trent Johnson (Sr, RHP) vs. TBA
Sunday vs. MSU: Jackson Smeltz (R-So, LHP) vs. Nick Powers (Fr, LHP)
Monday vs. MSU: TBA for both teams
SERIES HISTORY
Purdue vs. Penn State
All-Time: Purdue leads 50-32
Current Series Streak: Purdue has won 5 straight
All-Time at a Neutral Site: Purdue leads 3-0
Last Series: Purdue swept a 2-game set (March 2019 in West Lafayette)
Last Neutral-Site Meeting: Purdue 7, PSU 2 (2011 Big Ten Tournament in Columbus)
First Meeting: Purdue 4, PSU 2 (1983 in Lakeland, Florida)
Purdue vs. Michigan State
All-Time: MSU leads 85-72
All-Time in East Lansing: MSU leads 43-27
Last Series: MSU won 2 of 3 (May 2019 in West Lafayette)
Last Series in East Lansing: MSU won 2 of 3 (May 2015)
Purdue's Last Series Win vs. MSU: Purdue won 2 of 3 (April 2012 in West Lafayette)
Purdue's Last Series Win in East Lansing: Purdue won 2 of 3 (May 2009)
First Meeting: Purdue 6, MSU 3 (1949 in West Lafayette)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue baseball's first trip to the state of Michigan since 2015 doubles as the first of consecutive three-team pod weekends for the Boilermakers as they take on Penn State and Michigan State at the Spartans' McLane Stadium.
Purdue plays Penn State on Saturday at 10 a.m. and Sunday at noon ET. Purdue-Michigan State matchups are slated for Sunday at 4 p.m. and Monday at 3 p.m. Coincidentally, both opponents are also part of the Boilermakers' future three-team pods later this season.
Due to rain in the forecast, Penn State and Michigan State opted to play a doubleheader Friday at 2 p.m., which in turn led to Saturday game moving up to 10 a.m. Purdue is slated to be the home team Saturday vs. Penn State and the visiting team Sunday.
The Boilermakers have not played a game in the state of Michigan since winning the finale of their May 2015 series at Michigan State. They were scheduled to open and close the Big Ten season in Ann Arbor and East Lansing last year prior to the shutdown. Purdue has played 260 games in 24 different states since its last game in Michigan.
Meanwhile, the Boilermakers and Spartans have only played six games against each other since the start of the 2016 campaign. With Purdue and MSU also in the same three-team pod next weekend in Champaign, the Boilermakers are scheduled to play four consecutive games against the Spartans over a week's time.
Pitchers Eric Hildebrand (Chesterfield) and Calvin Starnes (Coloma) return to their home state this weekend. Hildebrand was a busy man during Purdue's six-game homestand, becoming the first Boilermaker since Bo Hofstra in March 2019 to pitch in four consecutive games. Over his four appearances at Alexander Field, he conceded only two hits vs. 16 batters faced, allowed only one of five inherited base runners to score and escaped a pair of bases-loaded jams in the Iowa series.
| BEEN A WHILE SINCE THE LAST VISIT | |||
| Opponent | Last Road Series | Head-to-Head Games Since Last Trip | Purdue's Total Games Since Last Trip |
| Michigan | April 17-18, 2015 | 11 | 269 |
| Michigan State | May 1-3, 2015 | 6 | 260 |
| Iowa | March 24-26, 2017 | 6 | 178 |
| Minnesota* | May 18-19, 2017 | 3 | 146 |
| Penn State | March 30-31, 2018 | 2 | 120 |
| *Purdue played at Minnesota's ACC/Big Ten Tournament in Minneapolis in 2020 (2/28-3/1) | |||
THE LAST TIME
• Purdue did not play on a Friday during a weekend: Won 2 of 3 vs. NJIT (March 2019 in Marion, N.C.)
• Purdue played on a Monday: Won 9-3 at Cal State Northridge (March 2017)
• Purdue played a regular-season neutral-site game vs. Penn State: Won 4-2 (March 1983 in Lakeland, Fla.)
• Purdue played 2 different teams (& only 2) during a regular-season weekend: Won vs. Butler, Lost vs. Samford (March 1, 2014 Doubleheader in Birmingham, Ala.)
RECENT MONDAY GAMES
• March 13, 2017 – Won 9-3 at Cal State Northridge
• April 13, 2015 – Lost 2-1 at Illinois
• March 17, 2014 – Lost 6-5 in 10 innings at San Diego State
• Feb. 17, 2014 – Lost 8-2 at Tennessee
• March 1, 2010 – Lost 18-14 vs. West Virginia (in Clearwater, Fla.)
STRUGGLES PERSIST IN BIG TEN RUBBER GAMES
• Rubber games won't be a factor over the next two weekends as Purdue plays four games at both of its three-team pods. The Boilermakers have had an opportunity to win four of their first five series this season, but they've dropped a rubber game each of the last three weekends. Since mid-April 2019, the program has lost six straight Big Ten rubber games. Purdue has also lost 10 of its last 11 Big Ten rubber games since mid-April 2017 and is just 8-26 in Big Ten rubber games since the beginning of the 2010 campaign. Three of those losses have come at the hands of Michigan State and are part of the reason why the Boilermakers have not won a series vs. MSU since April 2012.
• Coincidentally, Purdue went 5-0 in Big Ten rubber games in 2009, including a rubber game win in East Lansing.
SIMINGTON STREAKS INTO SELECT COMPANY
• Miles Simington placed his name among some select company with a pair of notable streaks during the six-game homestand. He joined current big leaguer Kevin Plawecki (2012) as the only Boilermakers since 2001 with a double in five consecutive games. Simington is also just one of 10 Purdue players since 2001 with an extra-base hit in five straight contests.
• Simington also had two hits in each of the first four games of the six-game homestand, finishing his first action at Alexander Field 11-for-26 with six doubles, four RBI and five runs scored over the six games. He was just the ninth Boilermaker since 2013 with multiple hits in at least four straight games.
| NOTABLE EXTRA-BASE HIT STREAKS (SINCE 2001) | ||||
| Season | Boilermaker | XBH Streak | Double Streak | XBH During Streak |
| 2016 | Kyle Wood | 10 Games | 2 Games | 12 – 5 2B, 3B, 6 HR |
| 2012 | Kevin Plawecki | 7 Games | 5 Games | 9 – 6 2B, 3 HR |
| 2007 | Ryne White | 7 Games | 2 Games | 7 – 4 2B, 3 HR |
| 2015 | Kyle Johnson | 6 Games | NA | 6 – 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR |
| 2009 | Brandon Haveman | 6 Games | 2 Games (2x) | 6 – 4 2B, 2 HR |
| 2021 | Miles Simington | 5 Games | 5 Games | 6 – All Doubles |
| 2012 | Kevin Plawecki | 5 Games | 3 Games | 6 – 5 2B, 3B |
| 2008 | Ryne White | 5 Games | NA | 6 – 3 2B, 3 HR |
| 2007 | Jordan Comadena | 5 Games | 4 Games | 6 – 4 2B, 2 HR |
| 2004 | Mike Coles | 5 Games | 2 Games | 5 – 2 2B, 3B, 2 HR |
| 2004 | Mike Coles | 5 Games | 3 Games | 7 – 6 2B, HR |
| 2003 | Nick McIntyre | 5 Games (All HR) | NA | 7 – All Home Runs |
| 2001 | Nate Sickler | 5 Games | 3 Games | 8 – 6 2B, 3B, HR |
| BOILERMAKERS WITH 4 CONSECUTIVE MULTI-HIT GAMES (SINCE 2013) | ||
| Season | Boilermaker | Combined Stat Line |
| 2021 | Miles Simington | 8-for-17, 3 2B, 2 RBI, HBP, 3 R |
| 2020 | Ben Nisle | 8-for-19, 2 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 6 R |
| 2019 | Nick Evarts | 8-for-15, 2B, 5 RBI, BB, 2 R |
| 2018 | Harry Shipley | 9-for-16, 2B, 2 HBP, 5 R |
| 2018 | Evan Warden | 9-for-18, 2 2B, HR, 3 RBI, 4 R |
| 2015 | Kyle Johnson (6 Games) | 13-for-24, 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, BB, HBP, 6 R |
| 2015 | Kyle Wood | 12-for-16, 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 2 BB, 4 R |
| 2014 | Kyle Wood | 8-for-18, HR, 3 RBI, BB, 2 R |
| 2013 | Conner Hudnall | 9-for-21, 3 2B, RBI, 4 R |
| 2013 | Jack Picchiotti | 8-for-17, 3 RBI, 3 R |
IOWA COULDN'T KEEP CAM OFF BASE
• Cam Thompson also caught fire on the back half of the six-game homestand. He reached base safely in seven of his nine plate appearances vs. Iowa, becoming just the eighth Boilermaker since 2016 to reach safely in 70% of his plate appearances in a series (minimum 8 PAs). However, three other active Boilermakers – Tyler Powers, Ben Nisle, Ryan Howe – plus assistant coach Harry Shipley have also accomplished the feat.
| BOILERMAKERS WITH .700 OBP IN A SERIES/WEEKEND Minimum 8 Plate Appearances, Since 2016 |
||||
| Season | Boilermaker | OBP (PA) | Weekend Stats | Opponent/Tourney |
| 2021 | Cam Thompson | .778 (9) | 5-for-7, 3 2B, 4 RBI, 2 HBP, 3 R | Iowa |
| 2020 | Bryce Bonner | .750 (8) | 3-for-5, 2B, 4 RBI, 3 HBP, R | vs. Hofstra |
| 2019 | Ryan Howe | .714 (8) | 5-for-7, Sac Bunt | Penn State |
| 2018 | Ben Nisle | .714 (14) | 7-for-11, 2 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB, 3 R | at NCAA Regional |
| 2018 | Tyler Powers | .700 (11) | 4-for-7, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 4 R, Sac Bunt | at Penn State |
| 2018 | Nick Dalesandro | .714 (14) | 8-for-11, 2 2B, 4 RIB, 2 BB, 3 R, Sac Fly | at Stetson Tourney |
| 2018 | Jacson McGowan | .714 (14) | 5-for-9, 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4 BB, HBP, 6 R | at Stetson Tourney |
| 2017 | Bryce Bonner | .778 (9) | 4-for-5, 3B, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 2 R, Sac Fly | at Texas State |
| 2016 | Harry Shipley | .818 (11) | 3-for-5, RBI, 3 BB, 3 HBP, 4 R | at Indiana |
BETTER LATE THAN NEVER
• Over its first 17 games, Purdue has scored 17 of its 63 runs (27%) in the ninth inning. Even with only a 44-game regular-season schedule this year, the Boilermakers are already halfway to becoming just the sixth Purdue team since 2001 with at least 30 runs in the ninth inning.
• The ninth inning has been the team's most productive frame, with only the third inning (16 runs) being close entering weekend No. 6. Three of Purdue's five biggest rallies have been in the ninth inning this season – seven vs. Rutgers (March 27), four vs. Rutgers (March 26) and three vs. Iowa (April 4).
PURDUE'S MOST RUNS IN THE NINTH INNING (SINCE 2001)
• 2012: 39
• 2009: 35
• 2011: 31
• 2018: 30
• 2017: 30