Boilers Host Rival IU for Just 2nd Series at AlexanderBoilers Host Rival IU for Just 2nd Series at Alexander

Boilers Host Rival IU for Just 2nd Series at Alexander

The Indiana-Purdue rivalry becomes the spotlight series during weekend No. 3 of Big Ten play for the second year in a row, with the Boilermakers hosting IU for a three-game set for just the second time since Alexander Field opened in 2013.

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GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Indiana (11-16, 1-2 B1G) at Purdue (19-6, 1-3 B1G)

Saturday to Monday, April 9 to 11 / Watch B1G+
Series Opener: Saturday, April 9 at 3 p.m. ET
Middle Game: Sunday, April 10 at 1 p.m. ET
Series Finale: Monday, April 11 at 4 p.m. ET
Alexander Field / West Lafayette, Indiana

PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Saturday: Jackson Smeltz (R-Jr, LHP) vs. IU's Jack Perkins (R-Jr, RHP)
Sunday: Troy Wansing (Fr, LHP) vs. IU's Bradley Brehmer (Sr, RHP)
Monday: TBA for Both Teams

SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Indiana leads 155-135-2
All-Time in West Lafayette: Purdue leads 74-64-1
2021: Indiana won 2 of 3 (March 19-21 in Bloomington)
Last Meeting in West Lafayette: Purdue 5, Indiana 2 (Non-Conference Game - April 25, 2018)
Last Series in West Lafayette: Purdue won 2 of 3 (April 2017)
First Meeting: Purdue 3, Indiana 2 (May 1888 in Bloomington)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Indiana-Purdue rivalry becomes the spotlight series during weekend No. 3 of Big Ten play for the second year in a row, with the Boilermakers hosting IU for a three-game set for just the second time since Alexander Field opened in 2013.

Inclement weather Friday led to the series schedule being changed to a Saturday-Sunday-Monday format. Game times are set for 3 p.m., 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. as Friday's game was essentially pushed to Monday. The Boilermakers have not played at home on a Monday since May 2010.

The Hoosiers' Bart Kaufman Field also opened in 2013, meaning the rivals both moved into new stadiums during the same school year. Due to quirks in the Big Ten schedule related to league expansion coupled with the shutdown in 2020, 14 of the last 18 IU-Purdue games have been played in Bloomington, helping account for the Hoosiers' big advantage in the series in recent years. Dating back to 2007, Purdue has won 15 of the last 19 meetings played away from Bloomington, including three of four at Alexander Field. The overall series in that same span is an even split at 20 wins apiece.

RECENT TRENDS IN THE INDIANA-PURDUE SERIES – PART 1 (Since 2007)
Games Played in Bloomington: 21 – Indiana leads 16-5
Games Played in West Lafayette: 14 – Purdue leads 11-3
Neutral-Site Games: 5 – Purdue leads 4-1
Games Played AWAY from Bloomington: 19 – Purdue leads 15-4
Games Played AWAY from West Lafayette: 26 – Indiana leads 17-9
All Games: 40 – Tied 20-20

RECENT TRENDS IN THE INDIANA-PURDUE SERIES – PART 2 (Since 2013)
Alexander Field & Bart Kaufman Field both opened in 2013
Games Played in Bloomington: 14 – Indiana leads 12-2
Games Played in West Lafayette: 4 – Purdue leads 3-1
Neutral-Site Games: None
All Games: 18 – Indiana leads 13-5

Entering the season, among Big Ten teams only Maryland – which like IU was also scheduled to visit West Lafayette in 2020 – has played fewer games at Alexander Field than Indiana.
 
FEWEST GAMES AT ALEXANDER AMONG BIG TEN TEAMS (Since 2013)
Team Games Opponent Record Last Visit
Maryland 3 3-0 April 2015
Indiana 4 1-3 April 2018
Illinois 6 3-3 April 2021
Michigan State 6 4-2 May 2019
Nebraska 6 6-0 March 2016

Indiana and Purdue both enter the weekend looking to right the ship. The Hoosiers have lost 10 of their last 15, including two of three vs. Northwestern at home last weekend after winning the series opener. The Boilermakers have dropped five of their last six since opening the season 18-1, suffering a sweep at the hands of Illinois last weekend in Champaign. Whichever team loses the series this weekend will officially be chasing it going forward in the race to qualify for the Big Ten Tournament (top 8 teams).

WEEKEND NUMBER 3 OF BIG TEN PLAY
Rutgers at Nebraska
Maryland at Minnesota
Indiana at Purdue – Saturday-Monday
Michigan State at Ohio State – Saturday-Monday
Illinois at Iowa – Saturday Doubleheader
Penn State at Northwestern – Saturday Doubleheader
Cal State Fullerton at Michigan – Non-Conference

Purdue's Cam Thompson and IU's Matthew Ellis have emerged as two of the top sluggers in the league. Thompson leads the Big Ten with 39 RBI thanks in part to nine home runs and a 1.230 OPS, ranking third in both categories. Ellis has connected for a league-leading 13 home runs and ranks second with 35 RBI.

Thompson's 13-game RBI streak ended April 1 at Illinois. It was the longest by a Boilermaker in the last 20 years. Now the first baseman is in position to become the fastest Boilermaker (in terms of date on the calendar) in the last 20 years to reach the 40-RBI mark. One more home run would also make Thompson just the fifth Boilermaker since 2001 to hit his 10th home run before May 1.
 
REACHED 40 RBI BEFORE MAY 1 (Since 2001)
Year Boilermaker Date of 40th RBI Season Total
2022 Cam Thompson TBD (39) TBD
2012 Cameron Perkins April 17 61
2001 Nate Sickler April 18 54
2018 Jacson McGowan April 24 59
2009 Dan Black April 28 51
2017 Jacson McGowan April 28 50
2001 Nick McIntyre April 29 48
   
REACHED 10 HOME RUNS BEFORE MAY 1 (Since 2001)
Year Boilermaker Date of 10th HR Season Total
2016 Kyle Wood April 8 12
2003 Nick McIntyre April 8 11
2022 Cam Thompson TBD (9) TBD
2009 Dan Black April 11 15
2008 Dan Black April 19 18
2018 Jacson McGowan April 21 13

MORE BOILERMAKERS TO HIT 10+ HOME RUNS (Since 2001)
Daniel Underwood – 12 in 2003
Ryne White – 12 in 2008
Only Wood & McGowan have done it in the BBCOR bat era (2011-present)

Connections among the pitching staffs for Indiana and Purdue feature Kokomo High School teammates and the return of Boilermaker Dustin Glant, IU's first-year pitching coach. The Hoosiers' staff ace Jack Perkins, a transfer from Louisville, is close friends with Purdue's Kyle Wade. Along with being standouts on the diamond, as the starting quarterback (Wade) and running back (Perkins) they helped lead KHS to the 2017 IHSAA Class 5A state title game on the gridiron. Wade threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Perkins in the 42-28 loss to Columbus East.

Glant was a relief pitcher for Purdue from 2001 to 2003 before being selected in the seventh round of the 2003 MLB Draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks. His coaching career has featured two stops at Ball State (2013, 2017-19) as well as two years in the New York Yankees farm system.

Meanwhile, the Boilermakers have an IU transfer starting in their infield for the second year in a row. Paul Toetz crossed the rivalry line this past summer, joining his sister Haley – Purdue's academic advisor – in West Lafayette. Toetz led the Big Ten in doubles as a Collegiate Baseball Freshman All-American for the Hoosiers last season. Toetz has started each of the first 25 games this season as a Boilermaker, all but one at second base.

ACTIVE STREAKS
• Cam Thompson – 25-game on-base
• CJ Valdez – 22-game on-base
• Evan Albrecht – 17-game on-base
• Curtis Washington Jr. – 13-game on-base, 7-game hit

TOP 10 IN THE BIG TEN ENTERING THE WEEKEND
Mike Bolton Jr. – 1st in Triples (4), 1st in Stolen Bases (15), T-4th in Walks (22), T-7th in HBP (8)
Cam Thompson – 1st in RBI (39), 1st in HBP (13), 3rd in HR (9), 2nd in SLUG (.756), 3rd in OBP (.474), 3rd in OPS (1.230)
Troy Wansing – 1st in ERA (1.75)
Evan Albrecht – 2nd in Batting Average (.412), 2nd in OBP (.500), 5th in Stolen Bases (11)
Troy Viola – 2nd in HBP (10), T-4th in Doubles (11)
Curtis Washington Jr. – 3rd in Stolen Bases (13), 5th in Runs (30)
Jackson Smeltz – 3rd in Strikeouts (51), T-4th in Wins (4)
Landon Weins – 6th in ERA (2.25)

PITCHING BREAKDOWNS
First 19 Games – Team Record: 18-1
…Starters: 84.2 IP, 70 H, 36 R, 31 BB, 108 K, 2.87 ERA, .227 B/Avg, 7.4 H/9, 11.5 K/9, 3.3 BB/9
…Bullpen: 95 IP, 83 H, 32 R, 50 BB, 98 K, 2.75 ERA, .238 B/Avg, 7.9 H/9, 9.3 K/9, 4.7 BB/9
Last 6 Games – Team Record: 1-5
…Starters: 19 IP, 26 H, 15 R, 14 BB, 20 K, 5.21 ERA, .321 B/Avg, 12.3 H/9, 9.5 K/9, 6.6 BB/9
…Bullpen: 33 IP, 52 H, 49 R, 22 BB, 21 K, 12.82 ERA, .356 B/Avg, 14.2 H/9, 5.7 K/9, 6.0 BB/9

RECENT MONDAY GAMES
April 19, 2021 – Won 20-6 at Illinois
April 12, 2021 – Won 8-2 at Michigan State
March 13, 2017 – Won 9-3 at Cal State Northridge
May 11, 2015 – Won 9-6 at Nebraska
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
May 10, 2010 – Lost 5-4 vs. Michigan State (at Lambert Field)
March 1, 2010 – Lost 18-14 vs. West Virginia (in Clearwater, Fla.)

LONGEST SEASON-OPENING ON-BASE STREAKS (Since 2001)
Cameron Perkins – First 50 Games in 2011
Mitch Hilligoss – First 27 Games in 2006
Cam Thompson – First 25 Games in 2022
CJ Valdez – First 22 Games in 2022
Brandon Haveman – First 22 Games in 2009
Mike Bolton Jr. – First 20 Games in 2022
Jordan Comadena – First 20 Games in 2007

ALBRECHT IN THE EVEN-NUMBERED YEARS
2020: 13 GP, .364 (16-for-44), 3 2B, 14 RBI, 7 R, 4 BB, 3-4 SB
2022: 25 GP, .412 (35-for-85), 9 2B, HR, 16 RBI, 23 R, 9 BB, 11-12 SB
Combined: 38 GP, .395 (51-for-129), 12 2B, HR, 30 RBI, 30 R, 13 BB, 14-16 SB
 
LONGEST ON-BASE STREAKS SINCE 2001
Single Season Only
Longer Than 30 Games
Ryne White – 52 in 2007*
Cameron Perkins – 50 in 2011^
David Blomberg – 39 in 2001
25-28 Games
Jon Moore – 28 in 2008
Jordan Comadena – 28 in 2008
Mitch Hilligoss – 27 in 2006^
Spencer Ingaldson – 26 in 2005
Cam Thompson – 25 in 2022^
Kevin Plawecki – 25 in 2012
24 Games
Skyler Hunter – 24 in 2019
Skyler Hunter – 24 in 2018
Kyle Wood – 24 in 2014
David Miller – 24 in 2011
Eric Charles – 24 in 2009
23 Games
Harry Shipley – 23 in 2018
Brandon Haveman – 23 in 2008
22 Games
CJ Valdez – 22 in 2022^
Cole McKenzie – 22 in 2019*
Nick Dalesandro – 22 in 2017
Brandon Haveman – 22 in 2009^
David Harrell – 22 in 2001
21 Games
Miles Simington – 21 in 2021
Skyler Hunter – 21 in 2017
Barrett Serrato – 21 in 2011
Ben Wolgamot – 21 in 2008
Nick McIntyre – 21 in 2003
20 Games
Mike Bolton Jr. – 20 in 2022^
Nick Dalesandro – 20 in 2018
Brandon Haveman – 20 in 2009*
Brandon Haveman – 20 in 2008*
Alex Jaffee – 20 in 2007
Jordan Comadena – 20 in 2007^
Mike Coles – 20 in 2004
* – Season-Ending Streak // ^ – Season-Opening Streak
 
HOMERED IN 4+ CONSECUTIVE WEEKENDS (Since 2001)
Year Player Consecutive Weekends Total Home Runs Opponents
2022 Cam Thompson 5 7 vs Longwood Bellarmine
Illinois State
Ohio State
at Illinois
2021 Ben Nisle 5 6 Iowa
at Michigan State
at Illinois
Illinois
at Ohio State
2015 Kyle Johnson 4 5 at Michigan
Maryland
at Michigan State
at Nebraska
2012 Barrett Serrato 4 4 at Nebraska
Michigan State
at UCLA
Michigan
2008 Ryne White 4 4 at Ohio
Western Illinois
Northwestern
at Iowa
2007 Ryne White 4 5 Ohio State
at Penn State
Iowa
at Northwestern
2003 Nick McIntyre 4 7 at Middle Tenn. St.
Miami (Ohio)
Penn State
Illinois
 
BEST STARTS AT HOME (Since 1975)
Year Home Opener Undefeated Home Start 1st Home Loss 2nd Home Loss Final Home Record
2022 March 10 6-0 March 29 April 6 TBD
2012 March 27 4-0 April 1 April 29 13-3
2011 March 22 NA March 22 April 10 14-4
2008 March 22 6-0 March 29 April 13 18-5
2002 March 20 7-0 April 14 April 20 10-11
2000 March 22 4-0 March 26 April 15 15-6
1999 March 24 5-0 April 3 April 3 14-5
1998 March 18 8-0 April 11 April 11 9-11
1993 March 18 7-0 March 27 March 28 14-9
1992 March 16 1-0 March 16 March 28 17-11
1991 March 16 NA March 16 March 31 17-7
1987 April 1 14-0-1 April 25 April 30 19-3-1
Purdue's record for home wins is 22 by the 1982 team (22-6)
 
ACTIVE BOILERMAKERS TO HIT THEIR FIRST CAREER HOME RUNS IN BIG TEN PLAY
Mike Bolton Jr. – 2022 at Illinois
Jake Parr – 2021 at Minnesota
Cam Thompson – 2021 vs. Rutgers
Paul Toetz – 2021 at Minnesota (Playing for Indiana)
Ryan Howe – 2019 at Nebraska