Louisville Slugger Invitational on Deck

LOUISVILLE SLUGGER INVITATIONAL SCHEDULE
Friday, March 10 at Cal State Fullerton
vs. Brown | 2:30 p.m. ET
at Cal State Fullerton | 6 p.m. ET
 
Saturday, March 11 at Long Beach State
vs. Weber State | 1 p.m. ET
at Long Beach State | 6 p.m. ET

Sunday, March 12 at Long Beach State
vs. Sacramento State | 1 p.m. ET
 
 
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Set to head west on a three-game win streak, the Purdue softball squad is primed for the Louisville Slugger Invitational, hosted by Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State this weekend.

In the tournament, Purdue will face five opponents in five games, spending Friday at Cal State Fullerton before playing on the campus of Long Beach State for Saturday and Sunday's matchups. Purdue will face Brown, Cal State Fullerton, Weber State, Long Beach State and Sacramento in the three-day tournament. Among the opponents, the Cal State Fullerton Titans will be among the most anticipated matchups, receiving votes in multiple polls and owning an RPI among the top-17 in the nation.
 
THE SHUTOUTS CONTINUE

• Purdue has posted five shutouts this season, the most a Boilermaker squad has tallied in an entire season in seven years (last: 2016 with 8). It is the most shutouts in a single season during HC Boo De Oliveira's tenure.
• The Boilermakers have secured back-to-back shutouts in a single day on two separate occasions. The last time a Purdue team has accomplished the feat was in 2004.

LAST WEEK LOOK BACK: AT THE CAROLINA CLASSIC (CHAPEL HILL, N.C.)

• Purdue went 3-1 over the weekend earning a .327 batting average, a .455 slugging percentage, and a .964 fielding %.
• The team secured back-to-back shutouts on their Saturday games (3/4) against James Madison (4-0) and North Carolina (4-0).
• Wins included a 5-3 come from behind victory vs. James Madison, where Purdue fell to a three-run lead in the first two innings, but then managed to keep James Madison scoreless while the Boilermakers responded with their five runs to capture the win.
• Five Boilermakers recorded a .357 or higher batting average last weekend led by Hailey Hayes with a .600 batting average and Tyrina Jones with a .533 batting average.
• Purdue out hit their opponents (36-24) and doubled their opponents run (16-7).

 
BIG TEN PLAYER OF THE WEEK: TYRINA JONES

• Tyrina Jones earned her first career Big Ten Player of the Week honor following an impressive performance which saw a .533 batting avg., two home runs, six RBI and eight hits.
• Jones scored the game-winner in all three Purdue victories last week, and had a hand in every run scored in the 4-0 victory at UNC (3/4).
• The sophomore has now scored a run in 12 of the last 13 games and recorded at least one RBI in the last three straight.
• Jones is hitting her stride, owning a .435 on-base %, a .750 slugging % and a .433 batting avg. this season.
• Overall, Jones ranks fourth in the Big Ten in both batting avg. and home runs.
• The Lake Worth, Florida native has racked up 21 RBI, good for third in the conference.
• She joins elite company alongside Purdue alums All-American Rachel Becker (March 14, 2022), Jenny Behan (March 4, 2019) as the most recent Boilermakers to receive Big Ten Player of the Week honors.
• Jones' four hits vs. Syracuse (2/17) marked the second-most by a Boilermaker in a single game. It has happened 44 times in program history, last: two seasons ago by 2022 All-America Honorable Mention Rachel Becker, who posted four vs. Rutgers (2021).
• Jones' five RBI vs. Syracuse (2/17) was the third-most in a single game by a Boilermaker and most since 2021 (Ryleigh Scott at Michigan State, 4/23/21).