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Softball Primed for Butler, Ohio StateSoftball Primed for Butler, Ohio State

Softball Primed for Butler, Ohio State

The Purdue softball squad has four games on tap this week with a midweek vs. Butler at home followed by a three-game road series this weekend at Ohio State.

Game Notes Opens in a new window
Wednesday, April 18 
vs. Butler | 5 p.m. ET | B1G+

Friday, April 21 
at Ohio State | 6 p.m. ET | B1G+
 
Saturday, April 22
at Ohio State | 2 p.m. ET | B1G+

Sunday, April 23
at Ohio State | 1 p.m. ET | B1G+
 
 
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue softball squad (19-24, 3-11 Big Ten) has four games on tap this week with a midweek vs. Butler (15-27, 9-6 Big East) at home followed by a three-game road series this weekend at Ohio State (27-14, 8-6 Big Ten). All games will be streamed on B1G+.

 
Schedule Notes
  • Of Purdue's last six opponents (15 games), five rank among the top 74 in the RPI and three among the top 37.
  • In total, the Boilermakers have played 13 opponents currently ranked among the top 76 in the RPI.
  • Purdue has one of the most difficult Big Ten schedules to start conference action, having competed against two of the league's top-3 teams: Nebraska and Indiana, which rank second and third, respectively in the standings.
  • Purdue's midweek vs. Butler will be the last midweek of the season for the Boilermakers. Moreover, it is one of only four remaining opportunities to watch the squad compete at home. 
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 LAST WEEK AT A GLANCE
  • Purdue went 2-2 last week, picking up a midweek win vs. SIUE followed by a 3-2 victory vs. Michigan in Game 2 of the series.
  • Purdue's win vs. Michigan was the first time under head coach Boo De Oliveira and marked the fourth win in program history against the Wolverines (last: April 23, 2014 in West Lafayette).
  • Alex Echazarreta was named the team's GFDF Player of the Week after posting the game-tying and game-winning RBI in Purdue's win vs. Michigan. On the week, the fifth year totaled six walks and a .500 on-base %.
  • Six Boilermakers accounted for Purdue's eight runs last week with Kiara Dillon and Tyrina Jones tying for a team-best two runs.
  • Jordyn Ramos notched her first triple of her career vs. SIUE, the hit batting in two runners.
 
MADI ELISH TOSSES ANOTHER COMPLETE GAME
  • Madi Elish was named the team's GFDF Pitcher of the week for the second consecutive week after leading the team to victory in both wins last week (W, 5-1 vs. SIUE and W, 3-2 vs. Michigan).
  • She tossed her third complete game victory of the season in the win vs. Michigan on Saturday.
  • Elish owns an 8-2 record this season and has only lost once when starting the game.
  • The Arizona transfer tossed a career-high seven strikeouts vs. Longwood (2/12/23).
  • Against Wisconsin (4/9/23) the sophomore tossed five strikeouts in just 5.1 innings of work, her Big Ten-best.

SCOUTING THE BUTLER BULLDOGS
  • Purdue has gone 17-1 over its last 18 games vs. Butler, dating back to 1998.
  • Butler is ranked 193 in the RPI.
  • As a team, Butler is averaging a .258 batting average and
  • Leading the offensive effort is Cate Lehner with a .333 batting average. In addition to posting the most hits on the team (38), the Bulldog is one of the fastest players on the team with a Butler-high 13 stolen bases.
  • Kaylee Gross guides the team with 22 runs on 34 hits and is just behind Lehner with 12 stolen bases this year.
  • The pitching staff is led by Mackenzie Griman, who owns a 3.68 ERA, a 7-13 record and 116.0 innings in the circle. The Bulldog is tossing a .287 opponent batting avg., the best among the pitching staff.
  • Although Griman leads the team, the Boilermakers have a chance to see Sydney Cammon or Rylyn Dyer in circle as all three pitchers have appeared in the range of 20-25 games this season.
  • Kieli Ryan has thrown out 12 runners attempting to steal. She sits atop the Big East and is 17th nationally in that category. She is the only player in the conference who has picked off two baserunners.
 
SCOUTING THE OHIO STATE BUCKEYES
  • Ohio State is ranked 29th in the latest RPI. 
  • Ohio State is ranked sixth in the Big Ten standings with an 8-6 conference record and is third in batting avg. (.306). 
  • Nationally, the Buckeyes rank fifth in the nation in doubles per game (1.73) and 12th in triples (0.37). They are the Big Ten leaders in both categories.
  • Melina Wilkison ranks fourth in the conference (.406). Following Wilkison, the team is led by #24 Sam Hackenbracht (.345), #27 Kami Kortokrax (.333) and #2 Tegan Cortelletti (.333). 
  • Wilkison leads the Big Ten in triples (6), second in the conference for slugging % (.803) and third for hits (56).  
  • Alison Smith leads the Buckeye's pitching staff with an ERA of .270 followed by Lexi Paulsen (.350) and #56 Emily Ruck (.386).