GAMEDAY INFORMATION
UIC (7-8) at Purdue (9-9)
Tuesday, March 21 at 4 p.m. ET / Watch B1G+
Alexander Field / West Lafayette, Indiana
$3 Deals on GA Tickets, Hot Dogs, Popcorn, Nachos, Beers
Purdue Trading Cards Giveaway (Set 1 of 3)
Probable Starting Pitchers: Calvin Schapira (R-Sr, LHP) vs. UIC's Ryan Karst (Fr, RHP)
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Purdue leads 13-9
All-Time in West Lafayette: Purdue leads 8-2
2022 in West Lafayette: UIC 10, Purdue 9 (March 29)
2022 in Chicago: UIC 9, Purdue 6 (April 19)
Purdue's Last Win in the Series: Purdue 5, UIC 3 (April 2014 in West Lafayette)
First Meetings: Purdue swept a doubleheader 5-0 & 14-4 (May 1982 in West Lafayette)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue baseball aims to build on its high-scoring, home-opening win last week while also righting the ship vs. a UIC team the Boilermakers are set to play home-and-home for midweek action again this season.
First pitch at Alexander Field is slated for 4 p.m. ET. Purdue defeated Northern Illinois 14-5 in its home opener last week, scoring its most runs in a home opener since 1985 (17) while posting a double-figure run total in a home opener for the first time since 2010 (10).
The Boilermakers and Flames renewed their midweek series last year for the first time since 2014. UIC was victorious in both games after overcoming a 9-0 deficit entering the seventh inning of the March meeting in West Lafayette. It marked the first time Purdue lost both ends of a home-and-home midweek series since 2016. This year's rematch is set for May 10 in Chicago.
PURDUE'S 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS VERSUS UIC
• Purdue Pitching: Team-record 19 strikeouts (in West Lafayette)
• CJ Backer: Struck had 11 strikeouts over 8 innings of 3-hit ball, striking out 5 of 9 batters in West Lafayette and 6 of 19 batters faced in Chicago; his performance at Alexander added his name to list of Boilers with 5+ Ks while fanning at least 50% of batters faced
• CJ Valdez: 2-Homer, 5-RBI game (in Chicago)
• Evan Albrecht: 6th of his 11 3-hit games in 2022 (in West Lafayette)
CJ Backer (5), Griffin Lohman (2) and Khal Stephen (2) all contributed to the team strikeout record (19) Purdue set in the first meeting with UIC. But the Flames erupted for three, four and three runs over each of the final three innings after being shut out for the first six frames.
The rematch in Chicago was a back-and-forth affair, with UIC scoring three times in the bottom of the eighth to break a 6-6 tie. CJ Valdez powered the lineup that night with a multi-homer game and his first of two five-RBI games on the season. Earlier this month, Valdez posted the first three-double game by a Boilermaker since the 2019 season opener. In doing so, he became just the fourth Boilermaker since 2001 with a multi-homer game and three-double effort in his career – joining Kevin Plawecki (2010-12), Nick Overmyer (2007-10) and Nate Sickler (1998-01).
Valdez's three-double game was part of a series win vs. Akron the first weekend of the month. That series featured another notable callback involving UIC. Purdue scored 13 runs in the fourth inning of that series finale vs. Akron. It was the program's biggest inning since a 15-run bottom of the second in an April 2013 home win vs. the Flames. It remains the biggest inning ever at Alexander Field.
Calvin Schapira is slated to make his first career midweek start as a Boilermaker on Tuesday. It will also mark his return to the mound at Alexander Field since closing out the 2021 season-ending win vs. Minnesota. Schapira has pitched 13 innings over four appearances this season in his return from Tommy John Surgery.
CASKENETTE PLAYS HIS WAY INTO THE LINEUP
• Connor Caskenette has been an on-base machine while settling in as the starting catcher. He has started nine of the last 12 games and reached base safely in 13 of his last 20 plate appearance since March 5. He has not struck out while compiling a .650 OBP over the last seven games.
• Since March 5: 8-for-15, 2B, 3 BB, 2 HBP, 4 RBI, 2 R, 0 K, .533/.650/.600
ACTIVE STREAKS
• Evan Albrecht – 21-game on-base streak dating back to the end of 2022
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 10-game on-base streak, 9-game on-base streak at Alexander Field
• Paul Toetz – 10-game on-base streak
• Cam Thompson – 23-game on-base streak at Alexander Field
TOP 10 IN THE BIG TEN ENTERING THE WEEK
• Paul Toetz – T-1st in HR (8), 2nd in Slugging (.818), 3rd in RBI (29), 3rd in OPS (1.292), 10th in OBP (.474), 10th in Batting Avg. (.379)
• Couper Cornblum – 1st in Steals (13)
• Mike Bolton Jr. – T-2nd in Triples (2), 4th in HBP (7), 8th in Steals (9)
• Evan Albrecht – T-3rd in Steals (10), 8th in Batting Avg. (.403)
• Kyle Iwinski – 4th in ERA (2.02), 6th in B/Avg (.190)
• Jake Jarvis – T-8th in HBP (5), T-9th in HR (4)
• Jake Parr – T-2nd in Triples (2)
• Cam Thompson – T-5th in HBP (6)
• Jonathan Blackwell – 10th in Innings (25 2/3)
RACKING UP THE RBI EARLY – RBI IN THE FIRST 18 GAMES
• Cam Thompson in 2022: 30 (10 multi-RBI games – 1 4-RBI, 2 3-RBI, 7 2-RBI)
• Paul Toetz in 2023: 29 (6 multi-RBI games – 2 6-RBI, 1 4-RBI, 3 3-RBI, 1 2-RBI)
UIC (7-8) at Purdue (9-9)
Tuesday, March 21 at 4 p.m. ET / Watch B1G+
Alexander Field / West Lafayette, Indiana
$3 Deals on GA Tickets, Hot Dogs, Popcorn, Nachos, Beers
Purdue Trading Cards Giveaway (Set 1 of 3)
Probable Starting Pitchers: Calvin Schapira (R-Sr, LHP) vs. UIC's Ryan Karst (Fr, RHP)
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Purdue leads 13-9
All-Time in West Lafayette: Purdue leads 8-2
2022 in West Lafayette: UIC 10, Purdue 9 (March 29)
2022 in Chicago: UIC 9, Purdue 6 (April 19)
Purdue's Last Win in the Series: Purdue 5, UIC 3 (April 2014 in West Lafayette)
First Meetings: Purdue swept a doubleheader 5-0 & 14-4 (May 1982 in West Lafayette)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue baseball aims to build on its high-scoring, home-opening win last week while also righting the ship vs. a UIC team the Boilermakers are set to play home-and-home for midweek action again this season.
First pitch at Alexander Field is slated for 4 p.m. ET. Purdue defeated Northern Illinois 14-5 in its home opener last week, scoring its most runs in a home opener since 1985 (17) while posting a double-figure run total in a home opener for the first time since 2010 (10).
The Boilermakers and Flames renewed their midweek series last year for the first time since 2014. UIC was victorious in both games after overcoming a 9-0 deficit entering the seventh inning of the March meeting in West Lafayette. It marked the first time Purdue lost both ends of a home-and-home midweek series since 2016. This year's rematch is set for May 10 in Chicago.
PURDUE'S 2022 ACCOMPLISHMENTS VERSUS UIC
• Purdue Pitching: Team-record 19 strikeouts (in West Lafayette)
• CJ Backer: Struck had 11 strikeouts over 8 innings of 3-hit ball, striking out 5 of 9 batters in West Lafayette and 6 of 19 batters faced in Chicago; his performance at Alexander added his name to list of Boilers with 5+ Ks while fanning at least 50% of batters faced
• CJ Valdez: 2-Homer, 5-RBI game (in Chicago)
• Evan Albrecht: 6th of his 11 3-hit games in 2022 (in West Lafayette)
CJ Backer (5), Griffin Lohman (2) and Khal Stephen (2) all contributed to the team strikeout record (19) Purdue set in the first meeting with UIC. But the Flames erupted for three, four and three runs over each of the final three innings after being shut out for the first six frames.
The rematch in Chicago was a back-and-forth affair, with UIC scoring three times in the bottom of the eighth to break a 6-6 tie. CJ Valdez powered the lineup that night with a multi-homer game and his first of two five-RBI games on the season. Earlier this month, Valdez posted the first three-double game by a Boilermaker since the 2019 season opener. In doing so, he became just the fourth Boilermaker since 2001 with a multi-homer game and three-double effort in his career – joining Kevin Plawecki (2010-12), Nick Overmyer (2007-10) and Nate Sickler (1998-01).
Valdez's three-double game was part of a series win vs. Akron the first weekend of the month. That series featured another notable callback involving UIC. Purdue scored 13 runs in the fourth inning of that series finale vs. Akron. It was the program's biggest inning since a 15-run bottom of the second in an April 2013 home win vs. the Flames. It remains the biggest inning ever at Alexander Field.
Calvin Schapira is slated to make his first career midweek start as a Boilermaker on Tuesday. It will also mark his return to the mound at Alexander Field since closing out the 2021 season-ending win vs. Minnesota. Schapira has pitched 13 innings over four appearances this season in his return from Tommy John Surgery.
CASKENETTE PLAYS HIS WAY INTO THE LINEUP
• Connor Caskenette has been an on-base machine while settling in as the starting catcher. He has started nine of the last 12 games and reached base safely in 13 of his last 20 plate appearance since March 5. He has not struck out while compiling a .650 OBP over the last seven games.
• Since March 5: 8-for-15, 2B, 3 BB, 2 HBP, 4 RBI, 2 R, 0 K, .533/.650/.600
ACTIVE STREAKS
• Evan Albrecht – 21-game on-base streak dating back to the end of 2022
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 10-game on-base streak, 9-game on-base streak at Alexander Field
• Paul Toetz – 10-game on-base streak
• Cam Thompson – 23-game on-base streak at Alexander Field
TOP 10 IN THE BIG TEN ENTERING THE WEEK
• Paul Toetz – T-1st in HR (8), 2nd in Slugging (.818), 3rd in RBI (29), 3rd in OPS (1.292), 10th in OBP (.474), 10th in Batting Avg. (.379)
• Couper Cornblum – 1st in Steals (13)
• Mike Bolton Jr. – T-2nd in Triples (2), 4th in HBP (7), 8th in Steals (9)
• Evan Albrecht – T-3rd in Steals (10), 8th in Batting Avg. (.403)
• Kyle Iwinski – 4th in ERA (2.02), 6th in B/Avg (.190)
• Jake Jarvis – T-8th in HBP (5), T-9th in HR (4)
• Jake Parr – T-2nd in Triples (2)
• Cam Thompson – T-5th in HBP (6)
• Jonathan Blackwell – 10th in Innings (25 2/3)
RACKING UP THE RBI EARLY – RBI IN THE FIRST 18 GAMES
• Cam Thompson in 2022: 30 (10 multi-RBI games – 1 4-RBI, 2 3-RBI, 7 2-RBI)
• Paul Toetz in 2023: 29 (6 multi-RBI games – 2 6-RBI, 1 4-RBI, 3 3-RBI, 1 2-RBI)
| FASTEST TO 30 RBI (Since 2001) | |||
| Year | Boilermaker | Date of 30th RBI | Season Total |
| 2022 | Cam Thompson | March 25 | 56 |
| 2018 | Jacson McGowan | March 31 | 59 |
| 2009 | Dan Black | April 4 | 51 |
| 2017 | Jacson McGowan | April 8 | 50 |
| 2012 | Cameron Perkins | April 8 | 61 |
| 2001 | Nate Sickler | April 11 | 54 |
| 2023 | Paul Toetz | TBD | 29 (as of March 20) |
| FASTEST TO 10 HOME RUNS (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 | April 10 | 13 |
| 2009 | Dan Black | April 11 | 15 |
| 2008 | Dan Black | April 19 | 18 |
| 2018 | Jacson McGowan | April 21 | 13 |
| 2023 | Paul Toetz | TBD | 8 (as of March 20) |