WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue softball team returns to Bittinger Stadium this weekend to square off with bitter in-state foe Indiana. The Boilermakers will vie for one point in the 2020-21 Governor's Cup standings over the four-game series.
Due to impending weather, all games will be streamed on Big Ten Network+. Friday will now be a doubleheader starting at 4 p.m. and Saturday will now have a 10 a.m. first pitch for one game. Sunday's start time for the series finale is still set for 1 p.m.
SERIES INFORMATION
Purdue (6-14) vs. Indiana (8-12)
April 9-11
Friday – 4 & 6:30 PM | Saturday – 10 AM | Sunday – 1 PM
TV: Big Ten Network+
Stats: purduestats.com
The Boilermakers dropped their road series at Minnesota last weekend. Despite the 1-3 record on the weekend, Purdue played its most complete series of the year over the four games. Freshman Savanah Henley propelled the Boilermakers to a 2-0 win on Saturday with a 13-strikeout 1-hitter. The punchout tally was the sixth most in program history. Fellow rookie Kiley Goff raked at the plate, going 7-of-12 with four RBI and her first career home run.
Rachel Becker continues to sit in the top 10 in seven different statistical categories for the Big Ten. The junior has a .435 clip at the plate with 10 extra-base hits, including a league-best nine doubles. Sophomore Cora Bassett moved into the conference lead with her 17th RBI of the year last weekend.
NOTES
• Purdue leads the all-time series against Indiana 32-24.
• Indiana has a 7-4 lead over Purdue in the 2020-21 Governor's Cup standings. Six points are still up for grabs heading into the weekend with remaining sports – softball, men's and women's golf, men's and women's tennis, men's and women's outdoor track & field.
• Catcher Kiley Goff enters the weekend tied with Rylee Platusic for the longest active on-base streak on the team at seven games.
• Purdue's leadoff hitters have a .340 clip at the plate, topped by Rachel Becker's .577 mark when starting an inning.
• The Boilermakers' 1-2-3 hitters have a combined .333 batting average with 36 runs scored and 28 RBI.
• Ashley Peters is 13th in the Big Ten with 1.62 walks allowed per seven innings. The lefty is Purdue's top reliever with nine appearances out of the bullpen for 22 innings pitched and a 2-1 record.
• After hitting just two home runs in their first 12 games, the Boilermakers have launched five dingers in the last eight contests.
• Purdue's offense has come alive late, scoring 36 of its 61 runs in the fifth inning or later.
• Senior Sydney Bates has thrown nine innings in relief with an 0.78 ERA and six strikeouts.