WEEKEND SERIES INFORMATION
Bellarmine (2-12) at No. 21 Purdue (12-0)
Thursday to Sunday, March 10 to 13 / Watch on B1G+
Alexander Field / West Lafayette, Indiana
Series Opener: Thursday, March 10 at 4 p.m. ET
Middle Game: Date & Time TBD by Weather
Series Finale: Sunday, March 13 at TBD
Series History: First Meetings
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Thursday: Jackson Smeltz (R-Jr, LHP) vs. Bellarmine's Nolan Pender (Jr, RHP)
Game 2: Troy Wansing (Fr, LHP) vs. Bellarmine's Gavin Braunecker (So, LHP)
Game 3: Wyatt Wendell (R-Jr, RHP) vs. Bellarmine's Arren Hash (Fr, RHP)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue baseball opens its program-record 28-game home schedule with its earliest home opener ever, hosting first-time foe Bellarmine for a weekend series that begins Thursday afternoon.
The home opener at Alexander Field was moved to Thursday at 4 p.m. ET to maximize favorable weather conditions. With snow in the forecast for Friday followed by temperatures in the mid-20s Saturday, a Sunday doubleheader to conclude the three-game series is a possibility. Temps on Sunday are forecasted to climb into the 50s.
Fans with tickets for Friday can use those tickets for Thursday's home opener or exchange them for any other game this weekend. In the event of additional schedule changes or cancellations, tickets can be exchanged for general admission seats for any future home game (excluding the April 8-10 series vs. Indiana).
At 12-0 and nationally ranked by Collegiate Baseball (No. 21) and the College Baseball Hall of Fame (No. 23) this week, Purdue is one of three undefeated teams left at the NCAA Division I level – joining Virginia and Clemson. The Boilermakers and Tigers have both won 13 consecutive games for the longest active win streaks in the nation as of March 9. The program's longest single-season win streak is 13 games and the longest multi-season streak is 16 consecutive wins, a record that has stood for more than 100 years.
Despite not playing at home yet, Purdue took advantage of being the home team in 11 of its first 12 games, winning five times in its final at-bat – a group of victories that included four walk-offs and a tiebreaking eighth-inning run in the season opener. Now the Boilermakers will aim to extend their program-record start by continuing their winning ways at home. Victories have not come easy at home since the move to Alexander Field for the 2013 season. Purdue was just 4-9 at home last year and has posted only two winning records at home (15-5 in 2018, 13-10 in 2019) since Alexander opened.
Jackson Smeltz leads the Big Ten with 28 strikeouts through 16 1/3 innings, racking up 21 Ks in 12 1/3 innings over his two starts on the 10-day road trip in North Carolina. The lefty joined Purdue's all-time strikeouts leader Matt Bischoff (in 2010) as the only Boilermakers since 2001 with 10-plus Ks in consecutive outings. Smeltz was excellent at Alexander last year, registering 10 strikeouts vs. three hits allowed over 8 2/3 shutouts innings across five appearances.
Big Ten RBI leader Cam Thompson hit a grand slam in Purdue's 2021 home opener as one of six Boilermakers to make their Alexander Field debuts that day.
Based in Louisville, Bellarmine made the move to the NCAA Division I level and joined the Atlantic Sun Conference in time for the 2020-21 school year. The Knights won their home opener Wednesday vs. Morehead State, ending a 10-game losing skid. But they've been very competitive against highly regarded opponents like Virginia (lost 1-0), Kentucky (lost 3-2) and Southeast Missouri State (lost 8-7 in 11 innings) early this season.
NOTABLE ACTIVE STREAKS
• Landon Weins – 10 consecutive scoreless innings (over his 4 appearances in 2022)
• Cam Thompson – 12-game on-base, 7-game hit & 5-game RBI streaks
• CJ Valdez – 9-game hit streak (every game he has played)
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 13-game on-base streak (dating back to 2021 season finale)
• Troy Viola – 10-game on-base streak
LEADING THE BIG TEN
• Jackson Smeltz – Wins (3) & Strikeouts (28)
• Mike Bolton Jr. – Triples (2) & Stolen Bases (8)
• Cam Thompson – RBI (19) & HBP (6)
• Curtis Washington Jr. – Runs Scored (16)
PITCHING BREAKDOWN ON THE NORTH CAROLINA TRIP
• Starters: 40 2/3 IP, 27 H, 9 ER, 10 BB, 51 K, 1.99 ERA, 5.98 H/9, 11.29 K/9
• Bullpen: 37 1/3 IP, 40 H, 12 ER, 23 BB, 34 K, 2.89 ERA, 9.64 H/9, 8.20 K/9
EARLIEST HOME OPENERS IN PURDUE HISTORY
*Home-Opening Doubleheader
• 2019: March 12 vs. Milwaukee – L, 6-1
• 1996: March 13 vs. Saint Joseph's (Ind.) – L, 7-0
• 1992: March 16 vs. Ball State* – W, 9-0
• 1991: March 16 Saint Joseph's (Ind.)* – L, 2-1
• 1994: March 17 vs. Saint Joseph's (Ind.) – W, 3-0
• 1990: March 17 vs. Saint Joseph's (Ind.) – L, 5-3
• 2015: March 18 vs. Valparaiso – W, 2-0
• 1998: March 18 vs. Valparaiso – W, 5-4
• 1993: March 18 vs. Saint Joseph's (Ind.) – W, 8-0
Bellarmine (2-12) at No. 21 Purdue (12-0)
Thursday to Sunday, March 10 to 13 / Watch on B1G+
Alexander Field / West Lafayette, Indiana
Series Opener: Thursday, March 10 at 4 p.m. ET
Middle Game: Date & Time TBD by Weather
Series Finale: Sunday, March 13 at TBD
Series History: First Meetings
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Thursday: Jackson Smeltz (R-Jr, LHP) vs. Bellarmine's Nolan Pender (Jr, RHP)
Game 2: Troy Wansing (Fr, LHP) vs. Bellarmine's Gavin Braunecker (So, LHP)
Game 3: Wyatt Wendell (R-Jr, RHP) vs. Bellarmine's Arren Hash (Fr, RHP)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue baseball opens its program-record 28-game home schedule with its earliest home opener ever, hosting first-time foe Bellarmine for a weekend series that begins Thursday afternoon.
The home opener at Alexander Field was moved to Thursday at 4 p.m. ET to maximize favorable weather conditions. With snow in the forecast for Friday followed by temperatures in the mid-20s Saturday, a Sunday doubleheader to conclude the three-game series is a possibility. Temps on Sunday are forecasted to climb into the 50s.
Fans with tickets for Friday can use those tickets for Thursday's home opener or exchange them for any other game this weekend. In the event of additional schedule changes or cancellations, tickets can be exchanged for general admission seats for any future home game (excluding the April 8-10 series vs. Indiana).
At 12-0 and nationally ranked by Collegiate Baseball (No. 21) and the College Baseball Hall of Fame (No. 23) this week, Purdue is one of three undefeated teams left at the NCAA Division I level – joining Virginia and Clemson. The Boilermakers and Tigers have both won 13 consecutive games for the longest active win streaks in the nation as of March 9. The program's longest single-season win streak is 13 games and the longest multi-season streak is 16 consecutive wins, a record that has stood for more than 100 years.
Despite not playing at home yet, Purdue took advantage of being the home team in 11 of its first 12 games, winning five times in its final at-bat – a group of victories that included four walk-offs and a tiebreaking eighth-inning run in the season opener. Now the Boilermakers will aim to extend their program-record start by continuing their winning ways at home. Victories have not come easy at home since the move to Alexander Field for the 2013 season. Purdue was just 4-9 at home last year and has posted only two winning records at home (15-5 in 2018, 13-10 in 2019) since Alexander opened.
Jackson Smeltz leads the Big Ten with 28 strikeouts through 16 1/3 innings, racking up 21 Ks in 12 1/3 innings over his two starts on the 10-day road trip in North Carolina. The lefty joined Purdue's all-time strikeouts leader Matt Bischoff (in 2010) as the only Boilermakers since 2001 with 10-plus Ks in consecutive outings. Smeltz was excellent at Alexander last year, registering 10 strikeouts vs. three hits allowed over 8 2/3 shutouts innings across five appearances.
Big Ten RBI leader Cam Thompson hit a grand slam in Purdue's 2021 home opener as one of six Boilermakers to make their Alexander Field debuts that day.
Based in Louisville, Bellarmine made the move to the NCAA Division I level and joined the Atlantic Sun Conference in time for the 2020-21 school year. The Knights won their home opener Wednesday vs. Morehead State, ending a 10-game losing skid. But they've been very competitive against highly regarded opponents like Virginia (lost 1-0), Kentucky (lost 3-2) and Southeast Missouri State (lost 8-7 in 11 innings) early this season.
NOTABLE ACTIVE STREAKS
• Landon Weins – 10 consecutive scoreless innings (over his 4 appearances in 2022)
• Cam Thompson – 12-game on-base, 7-game hit & 5-game RBI streaks
• CJ Valdez – 9-game hit streak (every game he has played)
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 13-game on-base streak (dating back to 2021 season finale)
• Troy Viola – 10-game on-base streak
LEADING THE BIG TEN
• Jackson Smeltz – Wins (3) & Strikeouts (28)
• Mike Bolton Jr. – Triples (2) & Stolen Bases (8)
• Cam Thompson – RBI (19) & HBP (6)
• Curtis Washington Jr. – Runs Scored (16)
PITCHING BREAKDOWN ON THE NORTH CAROLINA TRIP
• Starters: 40 2/3 IP, 27 H, 9 ER, 10 BB, 51 K, 1.99 ERA, 5.98 H/9, 11.29 K/9
• Bullpen: 37 1/3 IP, 40 H, 12 ER, 23 BB, 34 K, 2.89 ERA, 9.64 H/9, 8.20 K/9
EARLIEST HOME OPENERS IN PURDUE HISTORY
*Home-Opening Doubleheader
• 2019: March 12 vs. Milwaukee – L, 6-1
• 1996: March 13 vs. Saint Joseph's (Ind.) – L, 7-0
• 1992: March 16 vs. Ball State* – W, 9-0
• 1991: March 16 Saint Joseph's (Ind.)* – L, 2-1
• 1994: March 17 vs. Saint Joseph's (Ind.) – W, 3-0
• 1990: March 17 vs. Saint Joseph's (Ind.) – L, 5-3
• 2015: March 18 vs. Valparaiso – W, 2-0
• 1998: March 18 vs. Valparaiso – W, 5-4
• 1993: March 18 vs. Saint Joseph's (Ind.) – W, 8-0
| PURDUE WIN STREAKS OF 10+ GAMES | |||
| Year | Win Streak | Dates | Final Record |
| 1908-09 | 16 | May 15, '08-May 22, '09 | 1909: 11-2 |
| 2021-22 | 13 | May 30-TBD in 2022 | 2022: TBD |
| 2018 | 13 | April 20-May 9 | 38-21 |
| 2001 | 13 | March 24-April 14 | 32-24 |
| 1993 | 13 | March 10-27 | 36-22 |
| 1991 | 12 | March 16-31 | 35-21 |
| 1989 | 11 | April 23-May 7 | 34-25 |
| 2012 | 10 | Feb. 26-March 16 | 45-14 |
| 2012 | 10 | April 4-20 | 45-14 |
| 1983 | 10 | April 16-23 | 22-33-2 |
| 1948-49 | 10 | May 25-April 23 | 1949: 14-9-2 |
| HOME OPENERS AT ALEXANDER FIELD | |||
| Year | Date | Opponent | Result |
| 2021 | March 26 | Rutgers | L, 7-5 |
| 2019 | March 12 | Milwaukee | L, 6-1 |
| 2018 | March 23 | Lipscomb (DH) | L, 3-1 & W, 6-2 |
| 2017 | March 28 | Kent State | W, 3-2 |
| 2016 | March 23 | Louisville | L, 9-4 |
| 2015 | March 18 | Valparaiso | W, 2-0 |
| 2014 | March 26 | Purdue Fort Wayne | W, 7-1 |
| 2013 | March 22 | Ohio State | L, 10-1 |
| BACK-TO-BACK HOME RUNS (SINCE 2001) | ||||
| Date | Boilermakers | Opponent | Inning | Game Result |
| 3/05/2022 | Troy Viola Pablo Lanzarote |
vs Longwood | 5th | W, 6-5 |
| 5/02/2021 | Ben Nisle Zac Fascia |
at Ohio State | 6th | W, 16-15 |
| 5/02/2021 | Miles Simington Ben Nisle |
at Ohio State | 3rd | W, 16-15 |
| 4/23/2021 | Ryan Howe Kyle LaPlante |
Illinois | 9th | L, 6-5 |
| 6/03/2018 | Jacson McGowan Ben Nisle |
vs Houston* | 5th | L, 8-4 |
| 4/14/2010 | Drew Madia Kevin Plawecki |
at Illinois State | 2nd | W, 11-3 |
| 4/6/2010 | David Blount Jon Moore |
Valparaiso | 3rd | W, 14-5 |
| 3/17/2010 | Cameron Perkins Drew Madia |
at Eastern Kentucky | 8th | W, 7-3 |
| 5/17/2008 | Ryne White Dan Black |
at Illinois | 5th | W, 11-2 |
| 5/12/2007 | Dan Black Carlos Pupo |
Iowa | 3rd | W, 11-6 |
| 4/16/2006 | Jeff Mojzik Ryne White |
at Indiana | 6th | W, 25-8 |
| 3/25/2006 | Ryne White Neal Gorka |
Chicago State | 2nd | W, 16-6 |
| 5/27/2005 | Mitch Hilligoss Mike Coles |
vs Michigan^ | 9th | W, 9-7 |
| 4/02/2003 | Nick McIntyre Daniel Underwood |
at Ball State | 1st | L, 17-14 |
| 3/23/2003 | Nick McIntyre Daniel Underwood |
Miami (Ohio) | 6th | W, 12-2 |
| 3/23/2003 | Daniel Underwood Simon Klink |
Miami (Ohio) | 4th | W, 12-2 |
| 5/04/2002 | Daniel Underwood Kris Luce |
Minnesota | 8th | L, 10-9 |
| 4/07/2001 | Kris Luce John Gusich |
at Northwestern | 6th | W, 20-11 |
| * – NCAA Regional Game // ^ – Big Ten Tournament Game | ||||
| INDIVIDUAL DOUBLE-FIGURE STRIKEOUT GAMES (SINCE 2001) | |||||||
| Season | Pitcher | Opponent | Strikeouts | Batters Faced | Innings | K/9 | Result |
| 2022 | Jackson Smeltz | vs Longwood | 10 | 22 | 7 | 12.86 | W, 6-1 |
| 2022 | Jackson Smeltz | vs Princeton | 11 | 21 | 5 1/3 | 18.56 | W, 9-3 |
| 2021 | Trent Johnson | vs Penn State | 10 | 26 | 6 | 15.0 | W, 8-5 |
| 2021 | Jett Jackson | vs Nebraska | 10 | 20 | 4 1/3 | 20.78 | L, 4-0 |
| 2019 | Trent Johnson | at Northwestern | 10 | 15 | 4 1/3 | 20.78 | L, 2-1 |
| 2017 | Tanner Andrews | at Santa Clara | 10 | 27 | 7 2/3 | 11.74 | W, 3-0 |
| 2012 | Lance Breedlove | at Ohio State | 10 | 34 | 9 | 10.0 | W, 8-1 |
| 2012 | Lance Breedlove | vs Cincinnati | 11 | 24 | 7 | 14.14 | W, 6-0 |
| 2011 | Matt Morgan | at Lipscomb | 10 | 32 | 9 | 10.0 | W, 1-0 |
| 2010 | Matt Bischoff | Northwestern | 10 | 33 | 8 | 11.25 | W, 2-1 |
| 2010 | Matt Bischoff | Penn State | 10 | 26 | 6 | 15.0 | W, 18-7 |
| 2010 | Matt Bischoff | Minnesota | 10 | 32 | 9 | 10.0 | W, 3-2 |
| 2010 | Matt Morgan | at Ohio | 14 | 31 | 7 2/3 | 16.43 | W, 6-2 |
| 2010 | Matt Bischoff | vs Le Moyne | 11 | 28 | 8 | 12.38 | W, 3-0 |
| 2009 | Matt Bischoff | vs Miss Valley State | 12 | 28 | 8 | 13.5 | W, 4-1 |
| 2009 | Matt Bischoff | at Northwestern | 10 | 38 | 9 | 10.0 | W, 4-3 |
| 2009 | Matt Jansen | at Evansville | 11 | 34 | 8 2/3 | 11.42 | W, 3-1 |
| 2009 | Matt Morgan | Iowa | 10 | 32 | 7 1/3 | 12.27 | W, 10-9 |
| 2008 | Matt Bischoff | at Kentucky | 10 | 24 | 6 | 15.0 | L, 2-3 |
| 2007 | Matt Bischoff | at Alabama-Birmingham | 11 | 26 | 7 | 14.14 | W, 14-4 |
| 2006 | Jay Buente | at Louisiana-Lafayette | 11 | 32 | 8 | 12.38 | W, 5-1 |
| 2006 | Jay Buente | Northwestern | 10 | 21 | 5 | 18.0 | W, 3-0 |
| 2006 | Dan Sattler | Chicago State | 10 | 26 | 6 | 15.0 | W, 16-6 |
| 2006 | Dan Sattler | Northwestern | 12 | 34 | 8 | 13.5 | W, 11-3 |
| 2004 | Dan Sattler | vs Ohio State | 10 | 25 | 7 | 12.86 | L, 6-4 |
| 2004 | Scott Byrnes | Indiana | 11 | 26 | 6 1/3 | 15.63 | L, 9-3 |
| 2004 | Scott Byrnes | Michigan State | 11 | 32 | 8 1/3 | 11.88 | W, 3-2 |
| 2004 | Scott Byrnes | at Jacksonville State | 10 | 24 | 7 | 12.86 | W, 6-0 |
| 2002 | Chadd Blasko | Iowa | 12 | 32 | 8 2/3 | 12.46 | W, 4-2 |
| 2002 | Chadd Blasko | at Illinois | 10 | 32 | 9 | 10.0 | W, 6-2 |
| 2002 | Chadd Blasko | Miami (Ohio) | 15 | 30 | 8 | 16.88 | W, 12-2 |
| 2001 | David Gassner | Penn State | 10 | 33 | 7 | 12.86 | L, 3-1 |
| 2001 | Ben Quick | vs Troy | 10 | 32 | 8 | 11.25 | L, 2-1 |
| NEUTRAL SITE WALK-OFFS (SINCE 1999) | |||||
| Date | Opponent | Location | Score (Innings) | GW RBI | GW Run |
| 3/6/2022 | Longwood | Holly Springs, N.C. | 6-5 (11) | Cam Thompson | Cam Thompson |
| 3/5/2022 | Longwood | Holly Springs, N.C. | 6-5 (13) | Jake Stadler | Jake Jarvis |
| 2/26/2022 | Princeton (G2) | Holly Springs, N.C. | 5-4 (9) | Cam Thompson | Curtis Washington Jr. |
| 2/26/2022 | Princeton (G1) | Holly Springs, N.C. | 4-3 (9) | CJ Valdez | Curtis Washington Jr. |
| 4/18/2021 | Michigan State | Champaign, Ill. | 2-1 (11) | Evan Albrecht | Ben Nisle |
| 3/5/2021 | Nebraska | Round Rock, Texas | 6-5 (9) | Zac Fascia | Ben Nisle |
| 3/9/2019 | NJIT | Marion, N.C. | 9-8 (9) | Cole McKenzie | Tyler Powers |
| 5/24/2018 | Michigan* | Omaha, Neb. | 5-4 (9) | Evan Warden | Milo Beam |
| 2/23/2018 | Incarnate Word | San Antonio, Texas | 5-4 (10) | Nick Dalesandro | Skyler Hunter |
| 3/19/2016 | Ohio | Kokomo, Ind. | 5-4 (15) | Alec Olund | Nick Dalesandro |
| 2/21/2015 | Sam Houston St. | Corpus Christi, Texas | 4-3 (12) | Michael Vilardo | Alec Olund |
| 2/20/2009 | Cincinnati | Clearwater, Fla. | 11-10 (9) | Dan Black | Ben Wolgamot |
| 5/27/2005 | Illinois* | Champaign, Ill. | 4-3 (11) | John Hunter | Eric Wolfe |
| 3/1/2003 | Boston College | Homestead, Fla. | 1-0 (9) | Daniel Underwood | Nick McIntyre |
| 3/19/1999 | Rider | Homestand, Fla. | 6-5 (10) | Ryan Cole | Ryan Cole |
| *Big Ten Tournament Game (Illinois hosted in 2005, but Purdue was designated home team) | |||||