GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Michigan (22-16, 8-4 B1G) at Purdue (23-13, 4-6 B1G)
Friday to Sunday, April 29 to May 1
Series Opener: Friday, April 29 at 6 p.m. on B1G+
Middle Game: Saturday, April 30 at 6 p.m. on B1G+
Series Finale: Sunday, May 1 at 2 p.m. on BTN
Alexander Field / West Lafayette, Indiana
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (Updated Friday)
Friday: CJ Backer (So, RHP) vs. U-M's Connor O'Halloran (So, LHP)
Saturday: Wyatt Wendell (R-Jr, RHP) vs. U-M's Cameron Weston (Jr, RHP)
Sunday: TBA for both teams
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Michigan leads 150-63
All-Time in West Lafayette: Michigan leads 69-35
2021: Michigan swept a 4-game set (March 12-14 in Greensville, S.C.)
Last Series in West Lafayette: Purdue swept a 3-game set (May 2018)
First Meeting: Michigan 18, Purdue 0 (April 1893 in Ann Arbor)
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
Friday: Craft Beer Night & Mason Jar Postgame Giveaway; $1 GA Tickets for Service Personnel
Saturday: Fan Photo Booth with Purdue Pete & Kona Ice Truck
Sunday: Purdue Dance Marathon/Riley Family Day; BP Jersey Silent Auction; $12 Family 4-Pack Tickets
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue baseball begins a challenging 13-game stretch run by hosting Michigan for the first time since the final regular-season weekend of the successful 2018 campaign, wrapping up a season-long homestand at Alexander Field in the process.
First pitch is set for 6 p.m. ET on Friday and Saturday. Sunday's series finale is a special 2 p.m. first pitch due to live coverage from the Big Ten Network, which is also streamed live on the Fox Sports app.
The Boilermakers will be wearing special jerseys for Sunday's batting practice session and fans can purchase the jerseys via a silent auction that opens at 10 a.m. Sunday. Proceeds benefit Riley Children's Hospital.
The last four Purdue-Michigan series dating back to 2015 (the Boilermakers' last visit to Ann Arbor) have ended in sweeps. Unfortunately, the Wolverines have come out victorious in three of those four series. But Purdue's four wins in eight days against U-M late in the 2018 season helped lock up an at-large bid to an NCAA Regional.
After this weekend, the Boilermakers and Wolverines will have played a combined 14 games against each other in three different cities since Purdue's last visit to Ray Fisher Stadium in April 2015 – the longest active stretch without playing at a Big Ten opponent's ballpark. The Boilermakers were scheduled to open conference play at Michigan in March 2020.
Purdue enters weekend No. 6 of the conference schedule – its fifth after hosting Belmont last weekend – in the thick of the Big Ten Tournament chase, with only two games separating sixth-place Northwestern (6-6) and 10th-place Indiana (4-8). Unfortunately, the Boilermakers have the toughest remaining schedule of that group. Their final four conference opponents – Michigan, Iowa, Northwestern and Maryland – are a combined 31-17 in Big Ten play.
In conference play, Purdue continues to lead the Big Ten in batting average (.314), stolen bases (24-27) and fielding percentage (.984). The Boilermakers' 8.5 runs per game clip – buoyed by their 33 runs in the two victories vs. Indiana – is also best in the league. Illinois (8.3) and Rutgers (8.1) are also averaging eight runs per game in Big Ten play and have yet to have their open weekends in the league schedule.
Michigan averaged 7.7 runs per game over the first half of its Big Ten schedule. That number was impacted by a home series vs. Iowa's elite pitching. The Hawkeyes managed to hold U-M to seven runs while taking two of three in Ann Arbor the first weekend of April. The Wolverines have averaged 9.4 runs per game in their other nine Big Ten games.
Similar to the Indiana-Purdue series that produced 61 runs at Alexander Field, last weekend's Michigan-Ohio State rivalry series in Ann Arbor was also a high-scoring affair with a combined 57 runs. The Wolverines rallied to win the opener in 10 innings after trailing 5-0, 7-3 and 8-6 (with two outs in the ninth). The Buckeyes returned the favor Sunday with a three-run ninth inning to win 6-5. Michigan posted consecutive six-run innings in game 2 but also surrendered 11 runs over the final three innings, holding on for a 16-13 win.
The Wolverines play Maryland and Rutgers for the final two weekends of the regular season so they figure to have a big impact on the top of the standings as the Big Ten champion is decided next month.
WEEKEND NUMBER 6 OF BIG TEN PLAY
Conference records in parentheses
• Michigan (8-4) at Purdue (4-6)
• Northwestern (6-6) at Maryland (9-3)
• Iowa (8-4) at Nebraska (5-7)
• Illinois (11-4) at Indiana (4-8)
• Rutgers (12-3) at Ohio State (3-10)
• Minnesota (2-10) at Michigan State (3-9)
• Omaha at Penn State (7-8) – Non-Conference
PURDUE'S 25 STOLEN BASES CLUB
• Jeff Allison, 33 SB in 1987 – .347, 23 XBH, 38 RBI, 39 BB, 53 R
• Dave Scheitlin, 30 SB in 1991 – .350, 12 XBH, 26 RBI, 20 BB, 41 R
• Nick Dalesandro, 27 SB in 2018 – .297, 18 XBH, 34 RBI, 37 BB, 44 R
• Dave Scheitlin, 26 SB in 1990 – .345, 13 XBH, 30 RBI, 31 BB, 57 R
• Mitch Hilligoss, 25 SB in 2005 – .404, 21 XBH, 37 RBI, 8 BB, 52 R
• Chris Dietrick, 25 SB in 1981 – .254, 8 XBH, 21 RBI, 45 BB, 48 R
• Curtis Washington Jr., 25 SB in 2022 – .296, 6 XBH, 22 RBI, 14 BB, 43 R
BOILERMAKERS AMONG THE NATIONAL LEADERS FOR STOLEN BASES
• 91 of 102 – T-7th
• 2.53 Steals Per Game – 4th
• Curtis Washington Jr. – 25 of 25 (T-10th), 0.69 SB/G (9th)
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 22 of 26 (T-19), 0.61 SB/G (18th)
ACTIVE STREAKS – ALL GAMES
• Cam Thompson – 36-game on-base (every game)
• CJ Valdez – 32-game on-base (every game)
• Evan Albrecht – 10-game hit in Big Ten play
• Curtis Washington Jr. – 24-game on-base
• Troy Viola – 17-game on-base, 8-game hit in Big Ten play
• Notable: The Boilermakers have had five different players – Mike Bolton Jr. (21) is the fifth – post a 20-game on-base streaks in the same season for the first in the last 20 years. Previously, the 2008 team had five 20-game streaks but one player accounted for two of them.
ACTIVE STREAKS – HOME GAMES
• Curtis Washington Jr. – 16-game on-base (every game)
• Cam Thompson – 16-game on-base (every game)
• CJ Valdez – 15-game on-base (every game)
• Troy Viola – 10-game on-base, 9-game hit
• Jake Jarvis – 9-game on-base
MOST WALK-OFF WINS NATIONALLY
• Purdue – 6
• Richmond – 5
• NC State – 4
• UCLA – 4
• Cincinnati – 4 (1 due to run-rule)
TOP 10 IN THE BIG TEN ENTERING THE WEEKEND
• Mike Bolton Jr. – T-1st in Triples (4), 2nd in Stolen Bases (22), T-4th in Walks (30), T-8th in HBP (11), T-8th in Sac Bunts (3)
• Cam Thompson – 1st in HBP (21), T-2nd in SF (5), 3rd in RBI (47), T-5th in HR (10), 7th in SLUG (.628), 9th in OPS (1.063)
• Curtis Washington Jr. – 1st in Stolen Bases (25), T-6th in Runs (43)
• Evan Albrecht – 3rd in Batting Avg (.392), 5th in Stolen Bases (16), T-6th in Sac Bunts (4), 8th in OBP (.473)
• Jackson Smeltz – 2nd in Strikeouts (79), T-3rd in Wins (6), T-4th in B/Avg (.198), 6th in Innings (57 1/3), 8th in ERA (2.83)
• Troy Viola – T-4th in HBP (12)
• CJ Valdez – 7th in OBP (.476)
Michigan (22-16, 8-4 B1G) at Purdue (23-13, 4-6 B1G)
Friday to Sunday, April 29 to May 1
Series Opener: Friday, April 29 at 6 p.m. on B1G+
Middle Game: Saturday, April 30 at 6 p.m. on B1G+
Series Finale: Sunday, May 1 at 2 p.m. on BTN
Alexander Field / West Lafayette, Indiana
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS (Updated Friday)
Friday: CJ Backer (So, RHP) vs. U-M's Connor O'Halloran (So, LHP)
Saturday: Wyatt Wendell (R-Jr, RHP) vs. U-M's Cameron Weston (Jr, RHP)
Sunday: TBA for both teams
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Michigan leads 150-63
All-Time in West Lafayette: Michigan leads 69-35
2021: Michigan swept a 4-game set (March 12-14 in Greensville, S.C.)
Last Series in West Lafayette: Purdue swept a 3-game set (May 2018)
First Meeting: Michigan 18, Purdue 0 (April 1893 in Ann Arbor)
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
Friday: Craft Beer Night & Mason Jar Postgame Giveaway; $1 GA Tickets for Service Personnel
Saturday: Fan Photo Booth with Purdue Pete & Kona Ice Truck
Sunday: Purdue Dance Marathon/Riley Family Day; BP Jersey Silent Auction; $12 Family 4-Pack Tickets
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue baseball begins a challenging 13-game stretch run by hosting Michigan for the first time since the final regular-season weekend of the successful 2018 campaign, wrapping up a season-long homestand at Alexander Field in the process.
First pitch is set for 6 p.m. ET on Friday and Saturday. Sunday's series finale is a special 2 p.m. first pitch due to live coverage from the Big Ten Network, which is also streamed live on the Fox Sports app.
The Boilermakers will be wearing special jerseys for Sunday's batting practice session and fans can purchase the jerseys via a silent auction that opens at 10 a.m. Sunday. Proceeds benefit Riley Children's Hospital.
The last four Purdue-Michigan series dating back to 2015 (the Boilermakers' last visit to Ann Arbor) have ended in sweeps. Unfortunately, the Wolverines have come out victorious in three of those four series. But Purdue's four wins in eight days against U-M late in the 2018 season helped lock up an at-large bid to an NCAA Regional.
After this weekend, the Boilermakers and Wolverines will have played a combined 14 games against each other in three different cities since Purdue's last visit to Ray Fisher Stadium in April 2015 – the longest active stretch without playing at a Big Ten opponent's ballpark. The Boilermakers were scheduled to open conference play at Michigan in March 2020.
Purdue enters weekend No. 6 of the conference schedule – its fifth after hosting Belmont last weekend – in the thick of the Big Ten Tournament chase, with only two games separating sixth-place Northwestern (6-6) and 10th-place Indiana (4-8). Unfortunately, the Boilermakers have the toughest remaining schedule of that group. Their final four conference opponents – Michigan, Iowa, Northwestern and Maryland – are a combined 31-17 in Big Ten play.
In conference play, Purdue continues to lead the Big Ten in batting average (.314), stolen bases (24-27) and fielding percentage (.984). The Boilermakers' 8.5 runs per game clip – buoyed by their 33 runs in the two victories vs. Indiana – is also best in the league. Illinois (8.3) and Rutgers (8.1) are also averaging eight runs per game in Big Ten play and have yet to have their open weekends in the league schedule.
Michigan averaged 7.7 runs per game over the first half of its Big Ten schedule. That number was impacted by a home series vs. Iowa's elite pitching. The Hawkeyes managed to hold U-M to seven runs while taking two of three in Ann Arbor the first weekend of April. The Wolverines have averaged 9.4 runs per game in their other nine Big Ten games.
Similar to the Indiana-Purdue series that produced 61 runs at Alexander Field, last weekend's Michigan-Ohio State rivalry series in Ann Arbor was also a high-scoring affair with a combined 57 runs. The Wolverines rallied to win the opener in 10 innings after trailing 5-0, 7-3 and 8-6 (with two outs in the ninth). The Buckeyes returned the favor Sunday with a three-run ninth inning to win 6-5. Michigan posted consecutive six-run innings in game 2 but also surrendered 11 runs over the final three innings, holding on for a 16-13 win.
The Wolverines play Maryland and Rutgers for the final two weekends of the regular season so they figure to have a big impact on the top of the standings as the Big Ten champion is decided next month.
WEEKEND NUMBER 6 OF BIG TEN PLAY
Conference records in parentheses
• Michigan (8-4) at Purdue (4-6)
• Northwestern (6-6) at Maryland (9-3)
• Iowa (8-4) at Nebraska (5-7)
• Illinois (11-4) at Indiana (4-8)
• Rutgers (12-3) at Ohio State (3-10)
• Minnesota (2-10) at Michigan State (3-9)
• Omaha at Penn State (7-8) – Non-Conference
PURDUE'S 25 STOLEN BASES CLUB
• Jeff Allison, 33 SB in 1987 – .347, 23 XBH, 38 RBI, 39 BB, 53 R
• Dave Scheitlin, 30 SB in 1991 – .350, 12 XBH, 26 RBI, 20 BB, 41 R
• Nick Dalesandro, 27 SB in 2018 – .297, 18 XBH, 34 RBI, 37 BB, 44 R
• Dave Scheitlin, 26 SB in 1990 – .345, 13 XBH, 30 RBI, 31 BB, 57 R
• Mitch Hilligoss, 25 SB in 2005 – .404, 21 XBH, 37 RBI, 8 BB, 52 R
• Chris Dietrick, 25 SB in 1981 – .254, 8 XBH, 21 RBI, 45 BB, 48 R
• Curtis Washington Jr., 25 SB in 2022 – .296, 6 XBH, 22 RBI, 14 BB, 43 R
BOILERMAKERS AMONG THE NATIONAL LEADERS FOR STOLEN BASES
• 91 of 102 – T-7th
• 2.53 Steals Per Game – 4th
• Curtis Washington Jr. – 25 of 25 (T-10th), 0.69 SB/G (9th)
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 22 of 26 (T-19), 0.61 SB/G (18th)
ACTIVE STREAKS – ALL GAMES
• Cam Thompson – 36-game on-base (every game)
• CJ Valdez – 32-game on-base (every game)
• Evan Albrecht – 10-game hit in Big Ten play
• Curtis Washington Jr. – 24-game on-base
• Troy Viola – 17-game on-base, 8-game hit in Big Ten play
• Notable: The Boilermakers have had five different players – Mike Bolton Jr. (21) is the fifth – post a 20-game on-base streaks in the same season for the first in the last 20 years. Previously, the 2008 team had five 20-game streaks but one player accounted for two of them.
ACTIVE STREAKS – HOME GAMES
• Curtis Washington Jr. – 16-game on-base (every game)
• Cam Thompson – 16-game on-base (every game)
• CJ Valdez – 15-game on-base (every game)
• Troy Viola – 10-game on-base, 9-game hit
• Jake Jarvis – 9-game on-base
| RECORDS WATCH | |
| STOLEN BASES • Team Record: 106 (2000 in 58 Games) • 2022 Team Total: 91 (in 36 Games) • Individual Record: 33 – Jeff Allison (in 1987) • 2022 Team Leaders… 25 – Curtis Washington Jr. (1st in Big Ten, 9th Nationally) 22 – Mike Bolton Jr. (2nd in Big Ten, 18th Nationally) HIT BY PITCH • Individual Record: 30 – Evan Warden (in 2017) • 2022 Team Leader: 21 – Cam Thompson (1st in Big Ten) |
STRIKEOUTS ON THE MOUND • Team Record: 477 (2019 in 54 Games) • 2022 Team Total: 347 (in 35 Games) • K/9 Team Record: 9.10 (2019 in 471.2 Innings) • 2022 Team Total: 9.50 (in 328.2 Innings) • Individual Record: 95 – Matt Bischoff (in 2010) • 2022 Team Leader: 79 – Jackson Smeltz (2nd in Big Ten) • K/9 Record: 10.89 – Trent Johnson (in 2019) • 2022 K/9 Team Leader: 12.40 – Jackson Smeltz |
MOST WALK-OFF WINS NATIONALLY
• Purdue – 6
• Richmond – 5
• NC State – 4
• UCLA – 4
• Cincinnati – 4 (1 due to run-rule)
| WALK-OFF WINS AT ALEXANDER FIELD (Since 2013) | ||||
| Date | Opponent | Score (Innings) | GW RBI | GW Run |
| 4/26/2022 | Valparaiso | 6-5 (10) | Troy Viola | Jack Firestone |
| 3/20/2022 | Illinois State | 7-6 (10) | Evan Albrecht | Troy Viola |
| 3/27/2021 | Rutgers | 7-4 (9) | Mason Gavre | Ben Nisle |
| 3/31/2019 | Penn State | 2-1 (10) | Cole McKenzie | Seth Gergely |
| 5/06/2018 | Northwestern | 2-1 (12) | Alec Olund | Hayden Grant |
| 4/29/2018 | Saint Louis | 4-3 (9) | Harry Shipley | Milo Beam |
| 4/23/2018 | Illinois | 2-1 (9) | NA (E5) | Milo Beam |
| 5/20/2017 | Cal State Northridge | 1-0 (10) | Nick Dalesandro | Kyle Johnson |
| 4/25/2014 | Ohio State | 4-3 (13) | Kyle Wood | Cody Strong |
| 4/15/2014 | Butler | 5-4 (10) | Brandon Krieg | Jeff Evak |
TOP 10 IN THE BIG TEN ENTERING THE WEEKEND
• Mike Bolton Jr. – T-1st in Triples (4), 2nd in Stolen Bases (22), T-4th in Walks (30), T-8th in HBP (11), T-8th in Sac Bunts (3)
• Cam Thompson – 1st in HBP (21), T-2nd in SF (5), 3rd in RBI (47), T-5th in HR (10), 7th in SLUG (.628), 9th in OPS (1.063)
• Curtis Washington Jr. – 1st in Stolen Bases (25), T-6th in Runs (43)
• Evan Albrecht – 3rd in Batting Avg (.392), 5th in Stolen Bases (16), T-6th in Sac Bunts (4), 8th in OBP (.473)
• Jackson Smeltz – 2nd in Strikeouts (79), T-3rd in Wins (6), T-4th in B/Avg (.198), 6th in Innings (57 1/3), 8th in ERA (2.83)
• Troy Viola – T-4th in HBP (12)
• CJ Valdez – 7th in OBP (.476)