GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Purdue (9-7) at Evansville (10-7)
Friday-Sunday, March 17-19
Braun Stadium / Evansville, Indiana
Series Opener: Friday, March 17 at 4 p.m. ET
Middle Game: Saturday, March 18 at 3 p.m. ET
Series Finale: Sunday, March 19 at 2 p.m. ET
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday: Aaron Suval (Jr, RHP) vs. UE's Nick Smith (Jr, RHP)
Saturday: Jonathan Blackwell (Jr, LHP) vs. UE's Tyler Denu (Sr, LHP)
Sunday: Kyle Iwinski (Jr, RHP) vs. UE's Donovan Schultz (Jr, LHP)
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Purdue leads 20-16
All-Time in Evansville: Purdue leads 10-5
Last Series: Purdue won 2 of 3 (March 2013 in Evansville)
First Meeting: Purdue 5, Evansville 4 (April 1947 in Evansville)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue baseball's final weekend series before Big Ten Conference play begins doubles as the Boilermakers' first visit to Evansville in a decade.
First pitch at Braun Stadium in the state's southwest corner is slated for 4 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday (all ET). The start time for the series opener was moved up due to cold temperatures in the forecast.
Purdue is also slated to host the Purple Aces on April 4 at Alexander Field.
Three years ago, the Boilermakers were scheduled to leave on a road trip to Evansville on March 12. The team never boarded the bus. Instead, news came down that afternoon that all NCAA sports were shut down for the remainder of the school year. The in-state series resumes this season and represents the first of three road trips inside the state for Purdue. The Boilermakers also visit Terre Haute on March 28 and Bloomington on May 12-14.
Purdue has scored 82 runs over its last eight games. The Boilermakers have done it even with a pair of games during that stretch in which they scored just one run. Big innings have fueled the scoring surge; they've scored at least three times in a frame 13 times in the last seven games.
Paul Toetz enters the weekend leading the Big Ten with eight home runs and 27 RBI. He's aiming to overtake teammate Cam Thompson as the fastest Boilermaker to reach the 30-RBI mark since 2001.
RACKING UP THE RBI EARLY – RBI IN THE FIRST 16 GAMES
• Cam Thompson in 2022: 25 (8 multi-RBI games – 1 4-RBI, 2 3-RBI, 5 2-RBI)
• Paul Toetz in 2023: 27 (6 multi-RBI games – 2 6-RBI, 1 4-RBI, 3 3-RBI)
TOP 10 IN THE BIG TEN ENTERING THE WEEKEND
• Paul Toetz – T-1st in HR (8), 1st in RBI (27), 2nd in Slugging (.881), 3rd in OPS (1.367), T-4th in Runs (19), T-6th in Hits (23), 9th in OBP (.486), 10th in Batting Avg. (.390)
• Couper Cornblum – 1st in Steals (12)
• Mike Bolton Jr. – T-2nd in Triples (2), 2nd in HBP (7), T-6th in Steals (8), T-8th in Runs (17), 10th in OBP (.483)
• Kyle Iwinski – 2nd in ERA (1.40), 3rd in B/Avg (.167)
• Evan Albrecht – T-3rd in Steals (9), T-5th in Sac Flies (2), T-8th in Runs (17), 9th in Batting Avg. (.407)
• Jake Parr – T-2nd in Triples (2), T-5th in Sac Flies (2)
• Jake Jarvis – T-6th in HR (4)
• Cam Thompson – T-3rd in HBP (6), T-5th in Sac Flies (2)
• Jonathan Blackwell – 9th in Innings (20 2/3)
• Khal Stephen – 10th in Innings (20 1/3)
Evansville won 32 games and finished second in the Missouri Valley Conference standings last season. Nick Smith was named the MVC Pitcher of the Year and Wes Carroll was recognized as the MVC Coach of the Year after UE was picked seventh in the league's preseason poll. Smith is back starting on Fridays this season.
The Purple Aces got off to a slow start at 0-5 but they're 10-2 since, including six straight wins at home. They came back to win series vs. Eastern Michigan (Feb. 24-26) and Middle Tennessee (March 10-12) after dropping the opener with Smith on the mound. Evansville and Vanderbilt played a 17-inning marathon March 8 in Nashville. It was a 2-1 pitcher's duel.
Purdue pitcher CJ Backer's hometown – Newburgh, Indiana – is about eight miles east of UE's Braun Stadium. Wisconsin natives could also matchup often this weekend. The Boilermakers' hot-hitting middle infield duo of Evan Albrecht (West Bend) and Toetz (Greendale) may face as many as five pitchers from their home state. That includes lefty starters Tyler Denu (Mount Horeb) and Donovan Schultz (Kimberly).
ACTIVE STREAKS
• Evan Albrecht – 19-game on-base streak dating back to the end of 2022
• Jo Stevens – 12-game hit streak
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 8-game on-base streak
• Paul Toetz – 8-game on-base streak
• Cam Thompson – 7-game on-base streak
• Jake Parr – 5-game on-base streak
BOILERMAKERS ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY THIS CENTURY
• 2022: Loss 4-3 at Illinois State (11 Innings)
• 2019: Lost 3-0 at Jacksonville State
• 2018: Lost 15-1 & 11-9 at Saint Louis
• 2017: Won 3-0 at Santa Clara
• 2015: Lost 5-3 at Louisville
• 2014: Lost 6-5 at San Diego State (10 Innings)
• 2012: Lost 8-2 & 5-3 at Wichita State
• 2010: Won 4-3 at Eastern Kentucky
• 2009: Lost 15-5 at Illinois-Chicago
• 2007: Lost 11-7 at Samford
• 2006: Won 7-1 at Saint Louis
• 2004: Lost 18-16 at Georgia Tech
• 2003: Won 4-2 at Belmont
• 2002: Won 4-0 at Coastal Carolina
• 2001: Lost 8-6 at Cal State Northridge
• 2000: Lost 7-4 at East Carolina
Purdue (9-7) at Evansville (10-7)
Friday-Sunday, March 17-19
Braun Stadium / Evansville, Indiana
Series Opener: Friday, March 17 at 4 p.m. ET
Middle Game: Saturday, March 18 at 3 p.m. ET
Series Finale: Sunday, March 19 at 2 p.m. ET
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday: Aaron Suval (Jr, RHP) vs. UE's Nick Smith (Jr, RHP)
Saturday: Jonathan Blackwell (Jr, LHP) vs. UE's Tyler Denu (Sr, LHP)
Sunday: Kyle Iwinski (Jr, RHP) vs. UE's Donovan Schultz (Jr, LHP)
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Purdue leads 20-16
All-Time in Evansville: Purdue leads 10-5
Last Series: Purdue won 2 of 3 (March 2013 in Evansville)
First Meeting: Purdue 5, Evansville 4 (April 1947 in Evansville)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue baseball's final weekend series before Big Ten Conference play begins doubles as the Boilermakers' first visit to Evansville in a decade.
First pitch at Braun Stadium in the state's southwest corner is slated for 4 p.m. Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 2 p.m. Sunday (all ET). The start time for the series opener was moved up due to cold temperatures in the forecast.
Purdue is also slated to host the Purple Aces on April 4 at Alexander Field.
Three years ago, the Boilermakers were scheduled to leave on a road trip to Evansville on March 12. The team never boarded the bus. Instead, news came down that afternoon that all NCAA sports were shut down for the remainder of the school year. The in-state series resumes this season and represents the first of three road trips inside the state for Purdue. The Boilermakers also visit Terre Haute on March 28 and Bloomington on May 12-14.
Purdue has scored 82 runs over its last eight games. The Boilermakers have done it even with a pair of games during that stretch in which they scored just one run. Big innings have fueled the scoring surge; they've scored at least three times in a frame 13 times in the last seven games.
Paul Toetz enters the weekend leading the Big Ten with eight home runs and 27 RBI. He's aiming to overtake teammate Cam Thompson as the fastest Boilermaker to reach the 30-RBI mark since 2001.
RACKING UP THE RBI EARLY – RBI IN THE FIRST 16 GAMES
• Cam Thompson in 2022: 25 (8 multi-RBI games – 1 4-RBI, 2 3-RBI, 5 2-RBI)
• Paul Toetz in 2023: 27 (6 multi-RBI games – 2 6-RBI, 1 4-RBI, 3 3-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 | 27 (as of March 16) |
| 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 16) |
TOP 10 IN THE BIG TEN ENTERING THE WEEKEND
• Paul Toetz – T-1st in HR (8), 1st in RBI (27), 2nd in Slugging (.881), 3rd in OPS (1.367), T-4th in Runs (19), T-6th in Hits (23), 9th in OBP (.486), 10th in Batting Avg. (.390)
• Couper Cornblum – 1st in Steals (12)
• Mike Bolton Jr. – T-2nd in Triples (2), 2nd in HBP (7), T-6th in Steals (8), T-8th in Runs (17), 10th in OBP (.483)
• Kyle Iwinski – 2nd in ERA (1.40), 3rd in B/Avg (.167)
• Evan Albrecht – T-3rd in Steals (9), T-5th in Sac Flies (2), T-8th in Runs (17), 9th in Batting Avg. (.407)
• Jake Parr – T-2nd in Triples (2), T-5th in Sac Flies (2)
• Jake Jarvis – T-6th in HR (4)
• Cam Thompson – T-3rd in HBP (6), T-5th in Sac Flies (2)
• Jonathan Blackwell – 9th in Innings (20 2/3)
• Khal Stephen – 10th in Innings (20 1/3)
Evansville won 32 games and finished second in the Missouri Valley Conference standings last season. Nick Smith was named the MVC Pitcher of the Year and Wes Carroll was recognized as the MVC Coach of the Year after UE was picked seventh in the league's preseason poll. Smith is back starting on Fridays this season.
The Purple Aces got off to a slow start at 0-5 but they're 10-2 since, including six straight wins at home. They came back to win series vs. Eastern Michigan (Feb. 24-26) and Middle Tennessee (March 10-12) after dropping the opener with Smith on the mound. Evansville and Vanderbilt played a 17-inning marathon March 8 in Nashville. It was a 2-1 pitcher's duel.
Purdue pitcher CJ Backer's hometown – Newburgh, Indiana – is about eight miles east of UE's Braun Stadium. Wisconsin natives could also matchup often this weekend. The Boilermakers' hot-hitting middle infield duo of Evan Albrecht (West Bend) and Toetz (Greendale) may face as many as five pitchers from their home state. That includes lefty starters Tyler Denu (Mount Horeb) and Donovan Schultz (Kimberly).
ACTIVE STREAKS
• Evan Albrecht – 19-game on-base streak dating back to the end of 2022
• Jo Stevens – 12-game hit streak
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 8-game on-base streak
• Paul Toetz – 8-game on-base streak
• Cam Thompson – 7-game on-base streak
• Jake Parr – 5-game on-base streak
BOILERMAKERS ON ST. PATRICK'S DAY THIS CENTURY
• 2022: Loss 4-3 at Illinois State (11 Innings)
• 2019: Lost 3-0 at Jacksonville State
• 2018: Lost 15-1 & 11-9 at Saint Louis
• 2017: Won 3-0 at Santa Clara
• 2015: Lost 5-3 at Louisville
• 2014: Lost 6-5 at San Diego State (10 Innings)
• 2012: Lost 8-2 & 5-3 at Wichita State
• 2010: Won 4-3 at Eastern Kentucky
• 2009: Lost 15-5 at Illinois-Chicago
• 2007: Lost 11-7 at Samford
• 2006: Won 7-1 at Saint Louis
• 2004: Lost 18-16 at Georgia Tech
• 2003: Won 4-2 at Belmont
• 2002: Won 4-0 at Coastal Carolina
• 2001: Lost 8-6 at Cal State Northridge
• 2000: Lost 7-4 at East Carolina
| MULTIPLE GRAND SLAMS IN A SEASON IN THE BBCOR BAT ERA (Since 2011) | |||||
| Season | Boilermakers | Opponents | Locations | Innings | Game Results |
| 2021 |
Miles Simington Jake Parr Jeremy Schork Cam Thompson |
at Minnesota at Minnesota at Illinois Rutgers |
Minneapolis Minneapolis Champaign Alexander Field |
T-3rd T-5th T-9th B-9th |
W, 12-5 W, 9-3 W, 20-6 L, 9-5 |
| 2016 | Kyle Wood Kyle Johnson Kyle Johnson |
Louisville at Ball State at ETSU |
Alexander Field Muncie Johnson City |
B-6th T-2nd T-7th |
L, 9-4 L, 9-8 W, 19-6 |
| 2023 | Jake Parr Jake Jarvis |
vs Akron Northern Illinois |
Holly Springs, NC Alexander Field |
B-1st B-7th |
W, 13-0 W, 14-5 |
| 2015 | Jack Picchiotti Ted Snidanko |
Rutgers vs Northern Ill. |
Alexander Field Westfield, IN |
B-7th B-6th |
W, 9-5 W, 23-5 |
| 2012 | Barrett Serrato Cameron Perkins |
Michigan State vs Notre Dame |
Lambert Field St. Petersburg, FL |
B-4th T-6th |
W, 6-2 W, 15-8 |
| BIG INNING BOILERMAKERS – PROLIFIC RALLIES THE LAST 3 SEASONS | ||||
| Date | Runs | Inning | Opponent | Game Result |
| 3/05/23 | 13 | B-4th | vs Akron | W, 23-4 |
| 4/09/22 | 10 | B-8th | Indiana | W, 17-0 |
| 3/04/23 | 9 | B-3rd | vs Akron | W, 17-9 |
| 3/04/23 | 8 | B-1st | vs Akron | W, 13-0 |
| 3/15/22 | 8 | B-4th | Dayton | W, 11-2 |
| 2/19/22 | 8 | B-7th | vs South Dakota St. | W, 14-3 |
| 5/10/22 | 7 | B-6th | Butler | W, 11-6 |
| 3/10/22 | 7 | B-1st | Bellarmine | W, 8-4 |
| 2/20/22 | 7 | B-1st | vs South Dakota St. | W, 10-7 |
| 5/21/21 | 7 | T-3rd | at Minnesota | W, 12-5 |
| 3/27/21 | 7 | B-9th | Rutgers | W, 7-4 |
| 5/01/22 | 6 | B-6th | Michigan | W, 12-4 |
| 4/29/22 | 6 | B-8th | Michigan | W, 18-4 |
| 4/10/22 | 6 | B-3rd | Indiana | W, 16-15 |
| 4/19/21 | 6 | T-9th | at Illinois | W, 20-6 |
| 4/03/21 | 6 | B-6th | Iowa | W, 10-8 |
| 3/15/23 | 5 | B-7th | Northern Illinois | W, 14-5 |
| 3/15/23 | 5 | B-4th | Northern Illinois | W, 14-5 |
| 3/05/23 | 5 | B-2nd | vs Akron | W, 23-4 |
| 5/13/22 | 5 | T-4th | at Northwestern | W, 14-8 |
| 4/15/22 | 5 | T-1st | at Penn State | W, 11-5 |
| 2/25/22 | 5 | B-7th | vs Princeton | W, 9-3 |
| 5/30/21 | 5 | B-6th | Minnesota | W, 7-6 |
| 4/23/21 | 5 | B-9th | Illinois | L, 6-5 |
| 4/19/21 | 5 | T-2nd | at Illinois | W, 20-6 |
| Scoring Breakdown – 13: 1, 10: 1, 9: 1, 8: 3, 7: 5, 6: 5, 5: 9 | ||||
| SCORED 50+ RUNS OVER A 5-GAME STRETCH (BBCOR Bat Era, 2011-Pr) | |||
| Year | Total Runs | Opponent(s) | Game Scores |
| 2023 | 66 | Akron (3x) Ole Miss (2x) |
W, 17-9 W, 13-0 W, 23-4 L, 15-7 L, 7-6 (10) |
| 2018 | 63 | Northwestern (3x) Purdue Fort Wayne at Ball State |
W, 8-7 W, 9-5 W, 9-2 W, 27-3 W, 10-8 |
| 2022 | 59 | Northern Illinois Indiana State Indiana (3x) |
W, 17-14 L, 10-6 (10) W, 17-0 L, 10-3 W, 16-15 |
| 2012 | 57 | at Murray State (2x) at Missouri State at Wichita State (2x) |
W, 22-1 W, 13-2 W, 4-2 W, 8-3 W, 10-5 |
| 2011 | 56 | vs Pitt at Morehead State (2x) |
W, 5-3 W, 11-8 L, 10-9 (11) W, 18-1 W, 17-9 |
| 2021 | 53 | at Minnesota (4x) Penn State |
W, 9-3 W, 12-5 W, 17-4 L, 9-8 W, 7-4 |
| 2011 | 52 | at Penn State at UIC at Northwestern (3x) |
W, 15-4 W, 17-3 W, 9-7 L, 14-1 W, 10-2 |