Softball Travels to IU, Notre Dame for Midweek Showdown

GAME INFORMATION
Tuesday, April 26
at Indiana | 5 p.m. ET | B1G+
at Indiana | 7:30 p.m. ET | B1G+
 
Wednesday, April 27
at #20 Notre Dame | 5 p.m. ET | ACC Network Extra
 

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – In its first and only set of midweeks this season, Purdue softball (20-26, 3-11 Big Ten) will travel to two in-state rivals for a total of three games. First, the Boilermakers are slated for a doubleheader at Indiana (23-17, 6-9 Big Ten) on Tuesday beginning at 5 p.m. ET, followed by a 5 p.m. ET showdown at No. 20 Notre Dame (35-9, 13-5 ACC) the next day.

Purdue's doubleheader at Indiana will be streamed on B1G+, while fans can catch Wednesday's battle at No. 20 Notre Dame on ACC Network Extra.
 
SCHEDULE NOTES

• The Boilermakers have nine games remaining over the final two weeks of the regular season, including six this week.
• Purdue's matchup at #20 Notre Dame will also coincide with Purdue Day of Giving.
• Set to close out their home slate this weekend vs. Rutgers, the Boilermakers will honor their seniors postgame on Sunday.
• Purdue spent the first 36 games on the road, visiting four states over the first six weeks of play for the most games played among Big Ten squads heading into conference play.
• Purdue registered a 10-3 record over a three-week span (3/11-3/27), marking the program's best win streak since the 2019 season.
• Purdue faced three ranked opponents for a total of six games, recording a 1-4 record.
• The Boilermakers picked up their first win over a ranked opponent since 2016 and their third since 2009. with the 1-0 shutout at #22 USF last Thursday, March 17. The win also marked the first top-25 victory for head coach Boo De Oliveira.

 
BOILERMAKERS TAKE DOWN MICHIGAN STATE, 3-2

• Purdue came off a 3-2 thriller vs. Michigan State on Sunday, a full-team effort that quelled a seven-game losing streak.
• The Boilermakers were led by freshman third baseman Olivia McFadden, who registered all three RBI, a Big Ten game career-high and one shy of tying her season-best, which was set over the opening weekend at Coastal Carolina (2/12).
• Rachel Becker recorded two runs, including the game winner, marking the first multi-run game since playing Illinois (three runs, 3/25).

 
INDIANA HOOSIERS AT A GLANCE

• Leading the Hoosier offense is Cora Bassett, who owns a Big Ten-leading .438 batting average, good for No. 16 in the nation. The transfer out of Purdue also ranks among the nation's top-12 in doubles per game (#3 with 0.45/game), runs per game (#4 with 1.30), total bases (#10 with 113) and slugging % (#12 with .883).
• IU picked up a win over a ranked opponent in the opening weekend of Big Ten play, posting a 17-5 victory at then-#23 Ohio State. More recently, IU took on #10 Northwestern at home and although the Hoosiers fell 0-3 in the series, they took the Wildcats to 9 innings in Game 2 before eventually losing the game 8-13.
• IU's pitching staff is led by Macy Montgomery (10-6) and Heather Johnson (7-6). Montgomery owns a 4.23 ERA while Johnson follows closely at 4.67.

 
#20 NOTRE DAME AT A GLANCE

• Purdue is set to face #20 Notre Dame on Wednesday, the sixth time this season the Boilermakers have faced a ranked opponent.
• Notable wins for Notre Dame include vs. #21 LSU (W, 8-6), #9 Texas (W, 9-2), #7 Duke (W, 8-1), #6 Northwestern (W, 3-2) and #16 Clemson (W, 4-0).
• The Fighting Irish ranks 3rd in the nation in doubles (84), as well as ninth in batting average (.332), in addition to owning the nation's 12th-best winning % (.795).
• The team is led by Karina Gaskins, who ranks 8th nationally in RBI (52), 11th in on-base % (.564), 13th in walks per game (.80) and 14th in batting average (.441).

 
THE STREAK CONTINUES

• Alex Echazarreta has reached base in 14 consecutive games, the longest active streak on the team. Should the senior reach base in her next appearance at the plate, she will tie the team's season-high, set by Rachel Becker's (15 games earlier in the season).
• Echazarreta also owns the longest hitting streak on the team, which is active at 13 straight games.

 
BOILERMAKERS IN BIG TEN PLAY

• Based on her offensive statistics, Alex Echazarreta is estimated to have created 18.31 runs for Purdue in Big Ten play, followed next by Rachel Becker's 13.61 runs.
• On balls in play (excluding homers and strikeouts), Becker owns a .560 batting average, followed closely by Echazarreta at .529. Meanwhile, Jade Moy owns a .320.
• After starting every game this season, center fielder Kiara Dilon holds a perfect 1.000 fielding %. Meanwhile, catcher Kaeley Hallada follows closely with a .981 (1 error).