GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Nebraska (29-20-1, 13-8 B1G) at Purdue (23-27, 10-11 B1G)
Thursday to Saturday, May 18 to 22 / Watch B1G+
Series Opener: Thursday, May 18 at 6 p.m. ET
Middle Game: Friday, May 19 at 1 p.m. ET (Updated)
Series Finale: Saturday, May 20 at 2 p.m. ET
Alexander Field / West Lafayette, Indiana
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Thursday: Khal Stephen (So, RHP) vs. Nebraska's Emmett Olson (Jr, LHP)
Friday: Jonathan Blackwell (Jr, LHP) vs. Nebraska's Jace Kaminska (Jr, RHP)
Saturday: Kyle Iwinski (Jr, RHP) vs. TBA for Nebraska
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Nebraska leads 18-10
All-Time in West Lafayette: Nebraska leads 9-5
Last Series: Nebraska won 3 of 4 (March 2021 in Round Rock, Texas)
Last Series in West Lafayette: Nebraska swept a 3-game set (March 2016)
Purdue's Last Series Win vs. Nebraska: Purdue won 2 of 3 (May 2015 in Lincoln)
Purdue's Last Win vs. Nebraska in West Lafayette: Purdue 8, Nebraska 2 (1907)
First Meeting: Nebraska 13, Purdue 1 (1899 in West Lafayette)
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
Thursday: Pregame Commencement Ceremony at 5:30 p.m.; cooling towel giveaway
Friday: $2 tickets for Boy/Girl/Cub Scouts with proof of participation (sash/uniform, etc.)
Saturday: Pregame Senior Day Ceremony at 1:30 p.m.; Coasters Giveaway (Set 4 of 4)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue baseball has an opportunity to win its way into the Big Ten Tournament as Nebraska comes to Alexander Field for the first time since 2016 for a weekend series that features the Boilermakers' annual on-field commencement ceremony and Senior Day.
First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, 6 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday. Nine graduates from the Class of 2023 will be awarded their diplomas Thursday at 5:30 p.m. from Purdue's faculty athletics representative Dr. Marcy Towns, a Bodner-Honig professor of chemistry at the university. Eight Boilermakers are in the mix for Saturday's 1:30 p.m. Senior Day ceremony.
Rosters always remain in flux throughout the year. Case in point, senior Mike Bolton Jr. is planning to return in 2024 as a fifth-year in similar fashion to Evan Albrecht at this time last season. Steve Ramirez has earned two degrees in his three years with the program. He was part of Senior Day last year and then opted to return for 2023 as a fifth-year. Ramirez will be recognized briefly at the beginning of Saturday's ceremony.
Due to a head-to-head tiebreaker with Michigan State, the Boilermakers enter the weekend on the outside of the eight-team Big Ten Tournament field. But with Illinois done with its league schedule at 12-12, Purdue continues to control its own destiny. Three victories would allow the Boilermakers to leapfrog the Illini for a tournament berth. However, Purdue needs to avoid most ties this weekend – it would also lose a head-to-head tiebreaker with Illinois and come out on the short end of a three-way tie for seventh with Illinois and MSU.
If the Boilermakers drop a game this weekend, it needs to win more games than Michigan State (vs. Indiana) to clinch the final berth. Minnesota has an outside chance to crash the party but it would require the Gophers to sweep their home series vs. Rutgers coupled with multiple losses by both Purdue and Michigan State.
HOW PURDUE CAN CLINCH A BIG TEN TOURNAMENT BERTH
• 3 Wins
• 1 Win PLUS 3 losses by Michigan State
• 2 Wins PLUS 2 losses by Michigan State
The Boilermakers have played 365 games vs. 69 different teams since last hosting Nebraska for the opening weekend of Big Ten play in March 2016. Additionally, Purdue has played 135 home games (including 74 in Big Ten play) vs. 37 different opponents since Nebraska's last trip to Alexander. The Huskers were scheduled to visit West Lafayette in April 2020.
Dating back to the beginning of the 2017 campaign, Purdue's eight games total against the Huskers are its fewest against any Big Ten rival. The teams opened the unique conference-only 2021 season against each other at the Triple-A stadium in Round Rock, Texas. The Boilermakers got an early look at a Nebraska team that went on to win the Big Ten and pushed Arkansas, the NCAA Tournament's top overall seed, to the wire in a winner-take-all Monday game at the Fayetteville Regional.
Infielders Max Anderson (.409/.453/.777, 18 2B, 19 HR, 65 RBI, 1 error at 2nd base) and Brice Matthews (.380/.496/.771, 20 HR, 65 RBI, 19 SB) made their collegiate debuts vs. Purdue in March 2021 and have now grown into two of the premier hitters in the Big Ten. They've led the way as the Huskers have connected for 90 home runs, second behind Maryland in the Big Ten and three shy of the program record that has stood since 1985.
Now the relief ace, Shay Schanaman (6 saves, 60 K vs. 33 hits in 46 1/3 IP) is the most notable remaining member of the pitching staff the Boilermakers faced early in 2021. Emmett Olson (72 strikeouts vs. 58 hits in 73 1/3 IP) and Jace Kaminska (7 wins in 12 starts, .231 B/Avg) have been constants in the weekend rotation all season.
For Purdue, Avery Cook, Cam Thompson, Calvin Schapira and Ramirez are the active Boilermakers that made their team debuts vs. Nebraska in 2021.
LONGEST STRETCHES WITHOUT VISITING WEST LAFAYETTE
• Nebraska – 5 Full Seasons: March 2016 to May 2023
• Maryland – 5 Full Seasons: April 2015 to May 2022
• Minnesota – 5 Full Seasons: April 2010 (at Lambert Field) to May 2016 (at Alexander Field)
• Indiana – 5 Full Seasons: April 2011 (at Lambert Field) to April 2017 (at Alexander Field)
• Illinois – 5 Full Seasons: May 2011 (at Lambert Field) to April 2017 (at Alexander Field)
ACTIVE NOTABLE STREAKS
• Jake Parr – 24-game on-base; 16-game on-base in Big Ten play; 14-game on-base at Home; 6-game hit at Home
• Couper Cornblum – 17-game on-base; 10-game hit at Home; 10-game on-base in Big Ten play
• Connor Caskenette – 16-game hit at Home
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 8-game on-base
• Kyle Iwinski – Pitched at least 6 innings in 4 straight starts at Home
• Paul Toetz – 100 consecutive games started (every game since start of 2022)
PARR'S 24-GAME ON-BASE STREAK (Since April 2)
• 33-for-82 (.402/.505/.646), 9 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 19 RBI, 12 BB, 5 HBP, 21 R, 2 SB
CORNBLUM'S 17-GAME ON-BASE STREAK (Since April 15)
• 21-for-66 (.318/.410/.424), 5 2B, 3B, 14 RBI, 11 BB, 16 R, 9 SB
CASKENETTE'S 16-GAME HIT STREAK AT ALEXANDER (Since March 31)
• 21-for-64 (.328/.377/.594), 5 2B, 4 HR, 20 RBI, 2 BB, 3 HBP, 11 R, SB
CORNBLUM'S 10-GAME HIT STREAK AT ALEXANDER (Since April 15)
• 14-for-40 (.350/.422/.450), 4 2B, 7 RBI, 5 BB, 10 R, 6 SB
KYLE IWINSKI'S FIRST 4 STARTS AT ALEXANDER FIELD
• April 2 vs. Northwestern: ND, 6 2/3 IP, 3 H, R, 0 BB, 5 K
• April 15 vs. Penn State: W, 8 IP, 6 H, R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
• April 30 vs. Rutgers: ND, 6 1/3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
• May 7 vs. South Dakota State: ND, 7 1/3 IP, 7 H, 2 R, BB, 3 K
• Combined at Home: 28 1/3 IP, 20 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 13 K, 1.59 ERA, .200 B/Avg
KHAL STEPHEN AT ALEXANDER
• March 15 vs. Northern Illinois: W, 3 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
• March 31 vs. Northwestern: W, 7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 7 K
• April 14 vs. Penn State: L, 5 2/3 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
• April 28 vs. Rutgers: W, 7 1/3 IP, 4 H, R, 2 BB, 3 K
• May 5 vs. South Dakota State: W, 8 IP, 5 H, 5 R, ER, BB, 8 K
• Combined at Home: 31 IP, 20 H, 14 R, 7 ER, 9 BB, 25 K, 2.03 ERA, .185 B/Avg
Nebraska (29-20-1, 13-8 B1G) at Purdue (23-27, 10-11 B1G)
Thursday to Saturday, May 18 to 22 / Watch B1G+
Series Opener: Thursday, May 18 at 6 p.m. ET
Middle Game: Friday, May 19 at 1 p.m. ET (Updated)
Series Finale: Saturday, May 20 at 2 p.m. ET
Alexander Field / West Lafayette, Indiana
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Thursday: Khal Stephen (So, RHP) vs. Nebraska's Emmett Olson (Jr, LHP)
Friday: Jonathan Blackwell (Jr, LHP) vs. Nebraska's Jace Kaminska (Jr, RHP)
Saturday: Kyle Iwinski (Jr, RHP) vs. TBA for Nebraska
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Nebraska leads 18-10
All-Time in West Lafayette: Nebraska leads 9-5
Last Series: Nebraska won 3 of 4 (March 2021 in Round Rock, Texas)
Last Series in West Lafayette: Nebraska swept a 3-game set (March 2016)
Purdue's Last Series Win vs. Nebraska: Purdue won 2 of 3 (May 2015 in Lincoln)
Purdue's Last Win vs. Nebraska in West Lafayette: Purdue 8, Nebraska 2 (1907)
First Meeting: Nebraska 13, Purdue 1 (1899 in West Lafayette)
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
Thursday: Pregame Commencement Ceremony at 5:30 p.m.; cooling towel giveaway
Friday: $2 tickets for Boy/Girl/Cub Scouts with proof of participation (sash/uniform, etc.)
Saturday: Pregame Senior Day Ceremony at 1:30 p.m.; Coasters Giveaway (Set 4 of 4)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue baseball has an opportunity to win its way into the Big Ten Tournament as Nebraska comes to Alexander Field for the first time since 2016 for a weekend series that features the Boilermakers' annual on-field commencement ceremony and Senior Day.
First pitch is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, 6 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday. Nine graduates from the Class of 2023 will be awarded their diplomas Thursday at 5:30 p.m. from Purdue's faculty athletics representative Dr. Marcy Towns, a Bodner-Honig professor of chemistry at the university. Eight Boilermakers are in the mix for Saturday's 1:30 p.m. Senior Day ceremony.
| BOILERMAKERS RECOGNIZED THIS WEEKEND | |
| THURSDAY: COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY AT 5:30 PM Spring 2023 Graduates • Evan Albrecht – Bachelor's in Organizational Leadership • Sam Franco – Bachelor's in American Studies • Jake Parr – Bachelor's in Organizational Leadership • CJ Valdez – Bachelor's in Selling & Sales Management • Steve Ramirez – Graduate Certificate in Communication & Leadership • Calvin Schapira – Graduate Certificate in Communication & Leadership Summer 2023 Graduates • Jake Jarvis – Bachelor's in Kinesiology • Cam Thompson – Bachelor's in Organization Leadership • Paul Toetz – Bachelor's in Communications |
SATURDAY: SENIOR DAY CEREMONY AT 1:30 PM • Evan Albrecht – 5-year Letterwinner • Sam Franco – 2-year Letterwinner • Jake Jarvis – 2-year Letterwinner • Jake Parr – 4-year Letterwinner • Calvin Schapira – 2-year Letterwinner, 3rd year Overall • Cam Thompson – 2-year Letterwinner • Paul Toetz – 2-year Letterwinner • CJ Valdez – 2-year Letterwinner |
Rosters always remain in flux throughout the year. Case in point, senior Mike Bolton Jr. is planning to return in 2024 as a fifth-year in similar fashion to Evan Albrecht at this time last season. Steve Ramirez has earned two degrees in his three years with the program. He was part of Senior Day last year and then opted to return for 2023 as a fifth-year. Ramirez will be recognized briefly at the beginning of Saturday's ceremony.
Due to a head-to-head tiebreaker with Michigan State, the Boilermakers enter the weekend on the outside of the eight-team Big Ten Tournament field. But with Illinois done with its league schedule at 12-12, Purdue continues to control its own destiny. Three victories would allow the Boilermakers to leapfrog the Illini for a tournament berth. However, Purdue needs to avoid most ties this weekend – it would also lose a head-to-head tiebreaker with Illinois and come out on the short end of a three-way tie for seventh with Illinois and MSU.
If the Boilermakers drop a game this weekend, it needs to win more games than Michigan State (vs. Indiana) to clinch the final berth. Minnesota has an outside chance to crash the party but it would require the Gophers to sweep their home series vs. Rutgers coupled with multiple losses by both Purdue and Michigan State.
HOW PURDUE CAN CLINCH A BIG TEN TOURNAMENT BERTH
• 3 Wins
• 1 Win PLUS 3 losses by Michigan State
• 2 Wins PLUS 2 losses by Michigan State
| POTENTIAL FINAL RECORDS | ||||
| Team (Current) | 3-0 Final Weekend | 2-1 Final Weekend | 1-2 Final Weekend | 0-3 Final Weekend |
| Rutgers (13-8) | 16-8 (.667) | 15-9 (.625) | 14-10 (.583) | 13-11 (.542) |
| Michigan (13-8) | 16-8 (.667) | 15-9 (.625) | 14-10 (.583) | 13-11 (.542) |
| Nebraska (13-8) | 16-8 (.667) | 15-9 (.625) | 14-10 (.583) | 13-11 (.542) |
| Illinois (12-12) | NA – .500 Final Mark | NA – .500 Final Mark | NA – .500 Final Mark | NA – .500 Final Mark |
| Michigan St. (10-11) | 13-11 (.542) | 12-12 (.500) | 11-13 (.458) | 10-14 (.417) |
| Purdue (10-11) | 13-11 (.542) | 12-12 (.500) | 11-13 (.458) | 10-14 (.417) – Out |
| Minnesota (8-13) | 11-13 (.458) | 10-14 (.417) – Out | 9-15 (.375) – Out | 8-16 (.333) – Out |
| FINAL WEEKEND MATCHUPS (May 18-20) • Nebraska (13-8) at Purdue (10-11) • Maryland (15-6) at Penn State (6-14) – All 3 games on BTN • Indiana (15-6) at Michigan State (10-11) – All 3 games on BTN • Rutgers (13-8) at Minnesota (8-13) • Michigan (13-8) at Ohio State (6-15) • Iowa (13-7) at Northwestern (3-18) • Tennessee-Martin at Illinois (12-12) – Non-Conference POTENTIAL HEAD-TO-HEAD TIEBREAKERS (Based on Series Results) • Purdue over Rutgers & Minnesota • Illinois over Michigan State • Illinois over Purdue (based on record vs. common opponents) • Michigan State over Purdue & Rutgers • Michigan State vs. Minnesota TBD (based on record vs. common opponents) BIG TEN COMMON OPPONENTS BREAKDOWN Purdue & Illinois – Michigan State, Northwestern, Minnesota, Rutgers, Indiana, Nebraska • Illinois – 10-8 • Purdue – 7-8 (+3 TBD, hosting NEB this weekend; both teams can't be 10-8 & also tied in standings) Purdue/Illinois/Michigan State – Northwestern, Rutgers, Indiana • Michigan State – 5-1 (+3 TBD, hosting IU this weekend) • Purdue – 4-5 (reverts to head-to-head tiebreaker after one team wins 3-way) • Illinois – 3-6 Purdue/Michigan State/Minnesota – Rutgers • Purdue – 2-1 • Michigan State – 2-1 • Minnesota – TBD (hosting RU this weekend) Michigan State & Minnesota – Ohio State, Purdue, Rutgers, Iowa, Illinois, Michigan • Michigan State – 7-11 • Minnesota – 6-9 (+3 TBD, hosting RU this weekend) |
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The Boilermakers have played 365 games vs. 69 different teams since last hosting Nebraska for the opening weekend of Big Ten play in March 2016. Additionally, Purdue has played 135 home games (including 74 in Big Ten play) vs. 37 different opponents since Nebraska's last trip to Alexander. The Huskers were scheduled to visit West Lafayette in April 2020.
Dating back to the beginning of the 2017 campaign, Purdue's eight games total against the Huskers are its fewest against any Big Ten rival. The teams opened the unique conference-only 2021 season against each other at the Triple-A stadium in Round Rock, Texas. The Boilermakers got an early look at a Nebraska team that went on to win the Big Ten and pushed Arkansas, the NCAA Tournament's top overall seed, to the wire in a winner-take-all Monday game at the Fayetteville Regional.
Infielders Max Anderson (.409/.453/.777, 18 2B, 19 HR, 65 RBI, 1 error at 2nd base) and Brice Matthews (.380/.496/.771, 20 HR, 65 RBI, 19 SB) made their collegiate debuts vs. Purdue in March 2021 and have now grown into two of the premier hitters in the Big Ten. They've led the way as the Huskers have connected for 90 home runs, second behind Maryland in the Big Ten and three shy of the program record that has stood since 1985.
Now the relief ace, Shay Schanaman (6 saves, 60 K vs. 33 hits in 46 1/3 IP) is the most notable remaining member of the pitching staff the Boilermakers faced early in 2021. Emmett Olson (72 strikeouts vs. 58 hits in 73 1/3 IP) and Jace Kaminska (7 wins in 12 starts, .231 B/Avg) have been constants in the weekend rotation all season.
For Purdue, Avery Cook, Cam Thompson, Calvin Schapira and Ramirez are the active Boilermakers that made their team debuts vs. Nebraska in 2021.
| FEWEST GAMES AT ALEXANDER AMONG BIG TEN TEAMS (Since 2013) | |||
| Team | Games | Opponent Record | Last Visit |
| Maryland | 5 | 5-0 | May 2022 |
| Nebraska | 6 | 6-0 | March 2016 |
| Illinois | 6 | 3-3 | April 2021 |
| Michigan State | 6 | 4-2 | May 2019 |
| Indiana | 7 | 2-5 | April 2022 |
LONGEST STRETCHES WITHOUT VISITING WEST LAFAYETTE
• Nebraska – 5 Full Seasons: March 2016 to May 2023
• Maryland – 5 Full Seasons: April 2015 to May 2022
• Minnesota – 5 Full Seasons: April 2010 (at Lambert Field) to May 2016 (at Alexander Field)
• Indiana – 5 Full Seasons: April 2011 (at Lambert Field) to April 2017 (at Alexander Field)
• Illinois – 5 Full Seasons: May 2011 (at Lambert Field) to April 2017 (at Alexander Field)
ACTIVE NOTABLE STREAKS
• Jake Parr – 24-game on-base; 16-game on-base in Big Ten play; 14-game on-base at Home; 6-game hit at Home
• Couper Cornblum – 17-game on-base; 10-game hit at Home; 10-game on-base in Big Ten play
• Connor Caskenette – 16-game hit at Home
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 8-game on-base
• Kyle Iwinski – Pitched at least 6 innings in 4 straight starts at Home
• Paul Toetz – 100 consecutive games started (every game since start of 2022)
PARR'S 24-GAME ON-BASE STREAK (Since April 2)
• 33-for-82 (.402/.505/.646), 9 2B, 3B, 3 HR, 19 RBI, 12 BB, 5 HBP, 21 R, 2 SB
CORNBLUM'S 17-GAME ON-BASE STREAK (Since April 15)
• 21-for-66 (.318/.410/.424), 5 2B, 3B, 14 RBI, 11 BB, 16 R, 9 SB
CASKENETTE'S 16-GAME HIT STREAK AT ALEXANDER (Since March 31)
• 21-for-64 (.328/.377/.594), 5 2B, 4 HR, 20 RBI, 2 BB, 3 HBP, 11 R, SB
CORNBLUM'S 10-GAME HIT STREAK AT ALEXANDER (Since April 15)
• 14-for-40 (.350/.422/.450), 4 2B, 7 RBI, 5 BB, 10 R, 6 SB
KYLE IWINSKI'S FIRST 4 STARTS AT ALEXANDER FIELD
• April 2 vs. Northwestern: ND, 6 2/3 IP, 3 H, R, 0 BB, 5 K
• April 15 vs. Penn State: W, 8 IP, 6 H, R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 3 K
• April 30 vs. Rutgers: ND, 6 1/3 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 2 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
• May 7 vs. South Dakota State: ND, 7 1/3 IP, 7 H, 2 R, BB, 3 K
• Combined at Home: 28 1/3 IP, 20 H, 7 R, 5 ER, 3 BB, 13 K, 1.59 ERA, .200 B/Avg
KHAL STEPHEN AT ALEXANDER
• March 15 vs. Northern Illinois: W, 3 IP, H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K
• March 31 vs. Northwestern: W, 7 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 7 K
• April 14 vs. Penn State: L, 5 2/3 IP, 4 H, 6 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 4 K
• April 28 vs. Rutgers: W, 7 1/3 IP, 4 H, R, 2 BB, 3 K
• May 5 vs. South Dakota State: W, 8 IP, 5 H, 5 R, ER, BB, 8 K
• Combined at Home: 31 IP, 20 H, 14 R, 7 ER, 9 BB, 25 K, 2.03 ERA, .185 B/Avg