GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Purdue (26-15, 8-4 Big Ten) at Northwestern (13-23, 2-10 Big Ten)
Friday to Sunday, April 25-27
Series Opener at Wrigley Field: Friday, April 26 at 8 p.m. ET / Big Ten Network
Middle Game in Evanston: Saturday, April 27 at 2 p.m. ET / B1G+
Series Finale in Evanston: Sunday, April 28 at 2 p.m. ET / B1G+
Rocky & Berenice Miller Park / Evanston, Illinois
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday: Jordan Morales (Grad, LHP) vs. NU's Kyle Potthoff (Grad, RHP)
Saturday: Luke Wagner (Sr, LHP) vs. TBA for Northwestern
Sunday: Jonathan Blackwell (Sr, LHP) vs. TBA for Northwestern
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Purdue leads 120-97-2
All-Time in Evanston: Purdue leads 55-50-1
2023: Purdue won 2 of 3 (March 31-April 2 in West Lafayette)
Last Series in Evanston: Purdue won 2 of 3 (May 2022)
First Meeting: Northwestern 10, Purdue 3 (May 1900 in Evanston)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – As Purdue Baseball resumes Big Ten play and the second half of the conference schedule begins, the Boilermakers ride a seven-game win streak vs. league rivals into Wrigley Field for the opener of their three-game series at Northwestern.
First pitch Friday on Chicago's North Side is set for 8 p.m. ET live on Big Ten Network. Parking is available for purchase ($10) in the Camry Lot (1126 W. Grace St.) on a first come, first serve basis. Purdue has not played in a Major League Baseball stadium since April 2011 at Target Field in Minneapolis.
The series shifts 10 miles north to Northwestern's Rocky and Berenice Miller Park for the final two games, with the first pitch set for 2 p.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday.
The Boilermakers have won four straight weekend series vs. Northwestern dating back to 2018. But the Wildcats have won both of their two previous games at Wrigley (2013 vs. Michigan, 2023 vs. Notre Dame) and took two of three vs. two-time defending conference champion Maryland in their last home series on campus at Miller Park.
Purdue's seven-game Big Ten win streak is its longest since 2018 when the Boilers swept three consecutive conference series, punctuating that hot stretch by bringing out the brooms vs. Northwestern at Alexander Field. Coach Greg Goff's team is in a three-way tie for second place in the standings with 12 conference games to go. Purdue plays Indiana, Michigan and Illinois over the final three weekends.
WEEKEND #6 OF BIG TEN PLAY
• Purdue (8-4) at Northwestern (2-10)
• Iowa (9-6) at Nebraska (8-4)
• Illinois (10-2) at Maryland (6-9)
• Michigan State (5-7) at Ohio State (6-6)
• Rutgers (3-9) at Indiana (7-5)
• Minnesota (4-8) at Penn State (6-9)
• Long Beach State at Michigan (10-5) – Non-Conference
Mike Bolton Jr. headlines the Boilermakers' four Chicagoland area natives and the South Side product will have the honor of leading off Friday's game at the Friendly Confines. Breck Nowik (Lake Forest) also returns home this weekend, playing his high school games only 20 miles from Northwestern's campus. Freshmen Cole Van Assen (Tinley Park) and Amir Gray (South Holland) are also back in their home state.
Jordan Morales has started the opening game of every weekend for Purdue this season and he'll have another opportunity to pitch in a big league stadium this weekend. Morales was the first man out of the bullpen for Penn State in in a May 2022 game vs. Pitt at PNC Park, the home of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
As fifth-year student-athletes, Bolton and Morales have helped power the Boilermakers' recent surge in Big Ten play. Bolton is riding the second 20-game on-base streak of his career and been on base safely in 18 consecutive conference games dating back nearly a year. Morales gave Purdue consecutive quality starts in Friday wins vs. Rutgers and Michigan State, registering 11 strikeouts vs. 10 hits allowed over 14 2/3 innings.
The Boilermakers ride into Wrigley Field with the Big Ten leaders in RBI, runs scored, triples, total bases, walks, on-base percentage. Luke Gaffney's breakout season as a redshirt freshman has boosted a lineup that is on pace to set program records in runs per game, RBI and on-base percentage.
• Mike Bolton Jr. – .450/.645/.550, 2 2B, 4 BB, 7 HBP, 6 RBI, 9 R, 2 SB
• Luke Gaffney – .448/.500/.759, 3 2B, 2 HR, 3 BB, 12 RBI, 10 R
• Keenan Taylor – .389/.500/.500, 2 2B, 3 BB, HBP, 5 RBI, 5 R, SB
• Thomas Green – .350/.435/.550, 2B, HR, 3 BB, 3 RBI, 5 R, Sac, 2 SB
• Connor Caskenette – .333/.438/.481, 2B, HR, 5 BB, 6 RBI, 6 R
• Jo Stevens – .320/.433/.640, 3B, 2 HR, 3 BB, 2 HBP, 10 RBI, 6 R, Sac
• Carter Doorn – 3 App, 12 IP, 5 H, 0 R, BB, 9 K, .128 B/Avg
• Jordan Morales – 2 GS, 14 2/3 IP, 10 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 11 K, .182 B/Avg
• Jonathan Blackwell – 3 GS, 12 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 5 BB, 8 K, .146 B/Avg
ACTIVE STREAKS
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 20-game on-base streak; 18-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 4/29/23)
• Keenan Spence – 11-game on-base streak; 8-game hit streak in Big Ten play
• Luke Gaffney – 12-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
• Connor Caskenette – 10-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
• Couper Cornblum – 94 consecutive games started (since start of 2023)
• Carter Doorn – 15 consecutive scoreless innings in Big Ten play
• Jackson Dannelley – 15 consecutive inherited runners stranded (since 5/20/23)
TOP 10 IN THE BIG TEN ENTERING THE WEEKEND
• Luke Gaffney – 1st in RBI (56), 1st in Runs (51), 1st in Total Bases (112), T-1st in Triples (3), T-2nd in Hits (63), 3rd in Batting Avg (.399), 3rd in OPS (1.198), 3rd in Slugging (.709), 6th in OBP (.489), T-6th in HR (10), T-7th in Doubles (13)
• Camden Gasser – 1st in Walks (42), 1st in OBP (.524), 7th in Steals (14), 8th in Runs (42), 10th in Batting Avg (.355)
• Couper Cornblum – T-1st in Triples (3), 8th in At-Bats (163)
• Jackson Dannelley – T-2nd in Saves (5)
• Connor Caskenette – 3rd in RBI (48)
• Luke Wagner – T-3rd in Wins (6)
• Logan Sutter – T-4th in Doubles (15), 4th in Slugging (.657), 5th in OPS (1.117)
• Jordan Morales – T-5th in Wins (5), 8th in Innings (56), 9th in Walks per 9 IP (2.1)
• Mike Bolton Jr. – T-5th in Steals (15)
• Jo Stevens – T-5th in Triples (2), 9th in OBP (.467)
Purdue (26-15, 8-4 Big Ten) at Northwestern (13-23, 2-10 Big Ten)
Friday to Sunday, April 25-27
Series Opener at Wrigley Field: Friday, April 26 at 8 p.m. ET / Big Ten Network
Middle Game in Evanston: Saturday, April 27 at 2 p.m. ET / B1G+
Series Finale in Evanston: Sunday, April 28 at 2 p.m. ET / B1G+
Rocky & Berenice Miller Park / Evanston, Illinois
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday: Jordan Morales (Grad, LHP) vs. NU's Kyle Potthoff (Grad, RHP)
Saturday: Luke Wagner (Sr, LHP) vs. TBA for Northwestern
Sunday: Jonathan Blackwell (Sr, LHP) vs. TBA for Northwestern
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Purdue leads 120-97-2
All-Time in Evanston: Purdue leads 55-50-1
2023: Purdue won 2 of 3 (March 31-April 2 in West Lafayette)
Last Series in Evanston: Purdue won 2 of 3 (May 2022)
First Meeting: Northwestern 10, Purdue 3 (May 1900 in Evanston)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – As Purdue Baseball resumes Big Ten play and the second half of the conference schedule begins, the Boilermakers ride a seven-game win streak vs. league rivals into Wrigley Field for the opener of their three-game series at Northwestern.
First pitch Friday on Chicago's North Side is set for 8 p.m. ET live on Big Ten Network. Parking is available for purchase ($10) in the Camry Lot (1126 W. Grace St.) on a first come, first serve basis. Purdue has not played in a Major League Baseball stadium since April 2011 at Target Field in Minneapolis.
The series shifts 10 miles north to Northwestern's Rocky and Berenice Miller Park for the final two games, with the first pitch set for 2 p.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday.
The Boilermakers have won four straight weekend series vs. Northwestern dating back to 2018. But the Wildcats have won both of their two previous games at Wrigley (2013 vs. Michigan, 2023 vs. Notre Dame) and took two of three vs. two-time defending conference champion Maryland in their last home series on campus at Miller Park.
Purdue's seven-game Big Ten win streak is its longest since 2018 when the Boilers swept three consecutive conference series, punctuating that hot stretch by bringing out the brooms vs. Northwestern at Alexander Field. Coach Greg Goff's team is in a three-way tie for second place in the standings with 12 conference games to go. Purdue plays Indiana, Michigan and Illinois over the final three weekends.
WEEKEND #6 OF BIG TEN PLAY
• Purdue (8-4) at Northwestern (2-10)
• Iowa (9-6) at Nebraska (8-4)
• Illinois (10-2) at Maryland (6-9)
• Michigan State (5-7) at Ohio State (6-6)
• Rutgers (3-9) at Indiana (7-5)
• Minnesota (4-8) at Penn State (6-9)
• Long Beach State at Michigan (10-5) – Non-Conference
Mike Bolton Jr. headlines the Boilermakers' four Chicagoland area natives and the South Side product will have the honor of leading off Friday's game at the Friendly Confines. Breck Nowik (Lake Forest) also returns home this weekend, playing his high school games only 20 miles from Northwestern's campus. Freshmen Cole Van Assen (Tinley Park) and Amir Gray (South Holland) are also back in their home state.
Jordan Morales has started the opening game of every weekend for Purdue this season and he'll have another opportunity to pitch in a big league stadium this weekend. Morales was the first man out of the bullpen for Penn State in in a May 2022 game vs. Pitt at PNC Park, the home of the Pittsburgh Pirates.
As fifth-year student-athletes, Bolton and Morales have helped power the Boilermakers' recent surge in Big Ten play. Bolton is riding the second 20-game on-base streak of his career and been on base safely in 18 consecutive conference games dating back nearly a year. Morales gave Purdue consecutive quality starts in Friday wins vs. Rutgers and Michigan State, registering 11 strikeouts vs. 10 hits allowed over 14 2/3 innings.
The Boilermakers ride into Wrigley Field with the Big Ten leaders in RBI, runs scored, triples, total bases, walks, on-base percentage. Luke Gaffney's breakout season as a redshirt freshman has boosted a lineup that is on pace to set program records in runs per game, RBI and on-base percentage.
LEADERS DURING PURDUE'S 7-GAME BIG TEN WIN STREAK🏟️ Wrigley is an amazing place at all ages. Childhood dreams become a reality tonight at the Friendly Confines.@CarterDoorn x #BoilerUp x @Breck_Nowik pic.twitter.com/TJqF90p6MP
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) April 26, 2024
• Mike Bolton Jr. – .450/.645/.550, 2 2B, 4 BB, 7 HBP, 6 RBI, 9 R, 2 SB
• Luke Gaffney – .448/.500/.759, 3 2B, 2 HR, 3 BB, 12 RBI, 10 R
• Keenan Taylor – .389/.500/.500, 2 2B, 3 BB, HBP, 5 RBI, 5 R, SB
• Thomas Green – .350/.435/.550, 2B, HR, 3 BB, 3 RBI, 5 R, Sac, 2 SB
• Connor Caskenette – .333/.438/.481, 2B, HR, 5 BB, 6 RBI, 6 R
• Jo Stevens – .320/.433/.640, 3B, 2 HR, 3 BB, 2 HBP, 10 RBI, 6 R, Sac
• Carter Doorn – 3 App, 12 IP, 5 H, 0 R, BB, 9 K, .128 B/Avg
• Jordan Morales – 2 GS, 14 2/3 IP, 10 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 11 K, .182 B/Avg
• Jonathan Blackwell – 3 GS, 12 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 5 BB, 8 K, .146 B/Avg
ACTIVE STREAKS
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 20-game on-base streak; 18-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 4/29/23)
• Keenan Spence – 11-game on-base streak; 8-game hit streak in Big Ten play
• Luke Gaffney – 12-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
• Connor Caskenette – 10-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
• Couper Cornblum – 94 consecutive games started (since start of 2023)
• Carter Doorn – 15 consecutive scoreless innings in Big Ten play
• Jackson Dannelley – 15 consecutive inherited runners stranded (since 5/20/23)
TOP 10 IN THE BIG TEN ENTERING THE WEEKEND
• Luke Gaffney – 1st in RBI (56), 1st in Runs (51), 1st in Total Bases (112), T-1st in Triples (3), T-2nd in Hits (63), 3rd in Batting Avg (.399), 3rd in OPS (1.198), 3rd in Slugging (.709), 6th in OBP (.489), T-6th in HR (10), T-7th in Doubles (13)
• Camden Gasser – 1st in Walks (42), 1st in OBP (.524), 7th in Steals (14), 8th in Runs (42), 10th in Batting Avg (.355)
• Couper Cornblum – T-1st in Triples (3), 8th in At-Bats (163)
• Jackson Dannelley – T-2nd in Saves (5)
• Connor Caskenette – 3rd in RBI (48)
• Luke Wagner – T-3rd in Wins (6)
• Logan Sutter – T-4th in Doubles (15), 4th in Slugging (.657), 5th in OPS (1.117)
• Jordan Morales – T-5th in Wins (5), 8th in Innings (56), 9th in Walks per 9 IP (2.1)
• Mike Bolton Jr. – T-5th in Steals (15)
• Jo Stevens – T-5th in Triples (2), 9th in OBP (.467)
| .700 OBP FOR A WEEKEND (Since 2012) Minimum 10 Plate Appearances |
|||||||
| Season | Boilermaker | Opponent | OBP | Plate App | Hits | Walks | HBP |
| 2024 | Camden Gasser | ETSU | .800 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| 2024 | Mike Bolton Jr. | Michigan St. | .786 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 7 |
| 2024 | Keenan Taylor | at Ohio St. | .700 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| 2024 | Mike Bolton Jr. | UAlbany | .722 | 18 | 9 | 4 | 0 |
| 2023 | Evan Albrecht | vs Akron | .750 | 15 | 9 | 1 | 2 |
| 2022 | CJ Valdez | vs Longwood | .769 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2021 | Ryan Howe | at Minnesota | .778 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 0 |
| 2021 | Tyler Powers | at Minnesota | .909 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| 2018 | Tyler Powers | at Penn St. | .700 | 10 | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| 2016 | Harry Shipley | at Indiana | .818 | 11 | 3 | 3 | 3 |
| 2015 | Kyle Wood | at Oklahoma | .786 | 13 | 9 | 2 | 0 |
| 2015 | Harry Shipley | Butler | .727 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 0 |
| 2013 | Kyle Johnson | at Michigan | .714 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 0 |
| GAFFNEY FRESHMAN RECORD WATCH | ||
| Statistical Category | Freshman Record Entering 2024 | Luke Gaffney's Total as of April 25 |
| RBI | 53 – Kevin Plawecki, 2010 | 56 (Broke Record April 20) |
| Run Scored | 50 – Brett Roach, 1986 | 51 (Broke Record April 24) |
| Total Bases | 119 – Perkins (2010)/Roach (1986) | 112 |
| Doubles | 17 – Cameron Perkins, 2010 | 13 |
| Hits | 74 – Cameron Perkins, 2010 | 63 |
| Home Runs | 12 – Brett Roach, 1986 | 10 |
| Walks | 33 – Brett Roach, 1986 | 24 |
| Batting Average | .371 – Eric Charles, 2009 | .399 |
| On-Base Percentage | .461 – Eric Charles, 2009 | .489 |
| Slugging Percentage | .583 – Brett Roach, 1986 | .709 |
| Triples | 5 – Eric Osborn, 2004 | 3 |
| At-Bats | 219 – Cameron Perkins, 2010 | 158 |
| TEAM RECORD WATCH | ||
| Statistical Category | Purdue Season Record | Team Total as of April 25 |
| Runs | 454 in 1986 | 346 |
| Runs Per Game | 7.44 in 2022 | 8.44 |
| RBI | 397 in 1986 | 324 |
| Doubles | 124 in 2008 | 93 |
| Home Runs | 73 in 1987 | 48 |
| Walks | 310 in 1981 | 222 |
| HBP | 112 in 2022 (since 1981) | 83 |
| On-Base Pct. | .405 in 2009 (Since 1982) | .417 |
| Slugging Pct. | .498 in 1987 | .482 |