Wednesday, March 20
vs. Eastern Illinois | 5:00 p.m. | B1G+
Free Admission to Bittinger Stadium
Friday, March 22
at Michigan | 5 p.m. | B1G+
Saturday, March 23
at Michigan | 2 p.m. | B1G+
Sunday, March 24
at Michigan | 1 p.m. | B1G+
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - On deck, the Purdue softball team will play its first true midweek of the season vs. Eastern Illinois at home before traveling to Ann Arbor for the opening weekend of Big Ten play at Michigan.
All games will be streamed on B1G+.
ALL ABOUT SPEED
- Purdue ranks #8 in the nation and #2 in the Big Ten entering the week with 61 stolen bases.
- The team is 61-69 in stolen bases this year, already producing more stolen bases than the entire 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2008, 2005, 1998 and 1994 seasons.
- Overall, Purdue is more aggressive team on the bases compared to their opponents, with just 22 stolen bases on 28 attempts by its foes.
#SCTOP10: MORIAH POLAR
- The freshman outfielder made a diving catch in foul territory in Game 2 vs. Omaha, which made SC Top-10, coming in at #5 last Friday night.
PURDUE AMONG THE BIG TEN
- Purdue's defense ranks third in the Big Ten with a .971 fielding % and have gone errorless in 11 games this season. Meanwhile, the team ranks third in stolen bases and triples.
SCOUTING THE EASTERN ILLINOIS PANTHERS
- Series History vs. Eastern Illinois: 5-1 | Last Meeting: W, 11-0 in West Lafayette, Ind. | 4/16/03
- The Panthers enter the week with a 17-8 record. They take on IUPUI in a doubleheader on Tuesday night before heading to West Lafayette on Wednesday.
- At the plate, Rachel Kaufman has generated 31 hits, 23 RBI and a SLG% of .581 to lead the team while accounting for 15 total runs for the Panthers.
- Freshman pitcher, McKenzie Oslanzi, has an impressive ERA of .74, throwing a total of 85.2 innings. She holds her opponents at a batting average of .181 and has struck out 89 batters this season.
SCOUTING THE MICHIGAN WOLVERINES
- Series History vs. Michigan: 4-50 | Last Meeting: L, 0-5 in West Lafayette, Ind. | 4/16/23
- Last weekend, the Wolverines took on Illinois and came away with a 4-1 win. Michigan is now 16-11 on the season heading into the week. The team will take on Oakland on Tuesday before setting their sights on Purdue.
- Notable wins this season include 10-2 (5 innings on 3/2) and 2-1 (10 innings on 2/10) victories vs. currently-ranked #10 Florida.
- The Wolverines have two players with 13 RBI (Maddie Erickson, Keke Tholl) and one player with 19 (Jenissa Conway). Conway and Erickson also have a SLG% above .550.
- In the circle, Lauren Derkowski has thrown a total of 74 innings striking and has a 6-5 record. She has an ERA of 1.61, and she has struck out 82 batters.