GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Purdue (17-12, 2-4 Big Ten) at Rutgers (19-9, 1-2 Big Ten)
Friday to Sunday, April 5-7 / Watch B1G+
Series Opener: Friday, April 5 at 6 p.m. ET
Middle Game: Saturday, April 6 at 3 p.m. ET
Series Finale: Sunday, April 7 at 1 p.m. ET
Bainton Field / Piscataway, New Jersey
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: Jordan Morales (Grad, LHP) vs. RU's Justin Sinibaldi (Sr, LHP)
Saturday: Luke Wagner (Sr, LHP) vs. RU's Zack Konstaninovsky (Fr, RHP)
Sunday: Jonathan Blackwell (Sr, LHP) vs. RU's Christian Coppola (So, RHP)
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Rutgers leads 11-10
All-Time in Piscataway: Rutgers leads 4-2
2023: Purdue won 2 of 3 (April 28-30 in West Lafayette)
Last Series in Piscataway: Rutgers won 2 of 3 (April 2019)
First Meeting: Purdue 15, Rutgers 9 (March 1999 in Boca Raton, Fla.)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Baseball's first trip to New Jersey in five years doubles as the backend of its consecutive weekend road trips Big Ten play as the Boilermakers fly east for a three-game series at Rutgers.
First pitch at Bainton Field in Piscataway is set for 6 p.m. ET on Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. This year will mark the first time Purdue has played a night game at Rutgers, which added lights to its ballpark a year ago.
Pennsylvania natives Jordan Morales (Souderton, 60 miles from Piscataway) and Luke Wagner (New Cumberland, 150 miles from Piscataway) are scheduled to start on the mound for the Boilermakers in the first two games of the series.
Both teams had their midweek games washed out due inclement weather this week. Rutgers hosts Nebraska next weekend and has Maryland (May 3-5) and Ohio State (May 16-18) coming to Piscataway later this season. After the postponement of Wednesday's home game, Purdue's schedule now features a seven-game road stretch on the heels of the 13-game homestand. But the schedule turns home heavy again after this weekend as the Boilers play 17 of their final 24 regular-season games at home – including four weekend series at Alexander. The remaining weekend road trips are to Northwestern (April 26-28) and Michigan (May 10-12).
The Scarlet Knights lead the Big Ten in batting average (.330), stolen bases (62 of 74) and fielding percentage (.977). They also strike out the fewest in the league (5.96 K/game) while ranking seventh nationally in batting average. Rutgers is 96-47 overall since the start of the 2022 campaign, including an impressive 41-10 mark at home. However, a 51-32 record in true road games since 2022 has proven RU can win anywhere.
Purdue remains top three nationally with 32 double plays turned and enjoyed a clean week defensively on the artificial turf in Terre Haute and Columbus last week. It's another artificial turf surface this weekend in Jersey.
The Boilermakers won last year's series with Rutgers during the final weekend of April at Alexander Field, enjoying a notable edge in team on-base percentage (.400 to .303) over the three games. Connor Caskenette homered twice and Jo Stevens drove in three runs via a pair of extra-base hits in the series-opening win. Jonathan Blackwell and Aaron Suval teamed up for the game 2 win on the mound, with Suval posting four zeros as part of an 11-out save. The Scarlet Knights used a six-run seventh inning to overcome a 5-0 deficit Sunday, rallying to avoid the sweep.
Since Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2015, the home team has won 11 of the 18 regular-season meetings in the series.
ACTIVE STREAKS
• Jo Stevens – 15-game on-base streak; 9-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 5/18/23)
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 12-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 4/29/23); 8-game on-base streak in all games
• Luke Gaffney – 7-game on-base streak; 6-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
• Jackson Dannelley – 14 consecutive inherited runners stranded (since 5/20/23)
WEEKEND #3 OF BIG TEN PLAY
• Purdue (2-4) at Rutgers (1-2)
• Michigan (4-2) at Iowa (4-2)
• Illinois (5-1) at Minnesota (1-2)
• Ohio State (2-1) at Nebraska (3-0)
• Indiana (1-2) at Maryland (3-3)
• Northwestern (0-3) at Penn State (1-5)
• Niagara at Michigan State (3-3)
TOP 10 IN THE BIG TEN ENTERING THE WEEKEND
• Camden Gasser – 1st in OBP (.542), 1st in Walks (31), T-2nd in Sac Bunts (5), T-7th in Steals (10), T-8th in Runs (29)
• Luke Gaffney – T-1st in RBI (36), 3rd in Runs (32), 4th in Slugging (.664), T-5th in Triples (2), T-6th in hits (43), T-6th in Doubles (10), 7th in OPS (1.126), 7th in Batting Avg (.391), T-8th in HR (6)
• Logan Sutter – 1st in Doubles (14), 8th in Slugging (.648), 10th in RBI (28), 10th in OPS (1.089)
• Couper Cornblum – T-1st in Triples (3), 8th in At-Bats (115)
• Jackson Dannelley – 1st in Saves (5)
• Jordan Morales – T-3rd in Wins (4), 7th in Innings (38), T-8th in Strikeouts (38)
• Luke Wagner – T-3rd in Wins (4)
• Connor Caskenette – 5th in RBI (33), T-5th in HBP (10), T-8th in HR (6)
• Mike Bolton Jr. – T-5th in Steals (11)
• Jo Stevens – T-5th in Triples (2), T-7th in HBP (9)
Purdue (17-12, 2-4 Big Ten) at Rutgers (19-9, 1-2 Big Ten)
Friday to Sunday, April 5-7 / Watch B1G+
Series Opener: Friday, April 5 at 6 p.m. ET
Middle Game: Saturday, April 6 at 3 p.m. ET
Series Finale: Sunday, April 7 at 1 p.m. ET
Bainton Field / Piscataway, New Jersey
PROBABLE STARTING PITCHERS
Friday: Jordan Morales (Grad, LHP) vs. RU's Justin Sinibaldi (Sr, LHP)
Saturday: Luke Wagner (Sr, LHP) vs. RU's Zack Konstaninovsky (Fr, RHP)
Sunday: Jonathan Blackwell (Sr, LHP) vs. RU's Christian Coppola (So, RHP)
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Rutgers leads 11-10
All-Time in Piscataway: Rutgers leads 4-2
2023: Purdue won 2 of 3 (April 28-30 in West Lafayette)
Last Series in Piscataway: Rutgers won 2 of 3 (April 2019)
First Meeting: Purdue 15, Rutgers 9 (March 1999 in Boca Raton, Fla.)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Baseball's first trip to New Jersey in five years doubles as the backend of its consecutive weekend road trips Big Ten play as the Boilermakers fly east for a three-game series at Rutgers.
First pitch at Bainton Field in Piscataway is set for 6 p.m. ET on Friday, 3 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. This year will mark the first time Purdue has played a night game at Rutgers, which added lights to its ballpark a year ago.
Pennsylvania natives Jordan Morales (Souderton, 60 miles from Piscataway) and Luke Wagner (New Cumberland, 150 miles from Piscataway) are scheduled to start on the mound for the Boilermakers in the first two games of the series.
Both teams had their midweek games washed out due inclement weather this week. Rutgers hosts Nebraska next weekend and has Maryland (May 3-5) and Ohio State (May 16-18) coming to Piscataway later this season. After the postponement of Wednesday's home game, Purdue's schedule now features a seven-game road stretch on the heels of the 13-game homestand. But the schedule turns home heavy again after this weekend as the Boilers play 17 of their final 24 regular-season games at home – including four weekend series at Alexander. The remaining weekend road trips are to Northwestern (April 26-28) and Michigan (May 10-12).
| BEEN A WHILE SINCE THE BOILERMAKERS HAVE BEEN IN TOWN… | |||
| Big Ten Opponent | Purdue's Last Visit | Games Versus Since | Last Series Win There |
| Michigan | April 2015 | 14 | April 1993 |
| Nebraska | April 2019 | 7 | May 2015 |
| Rutgers | April 2019 | 7 | NA |
The Scarlet Knights lead the Big Ten in batting average (.330), stolen bases (62 of 74) and fielding percentage (.977). They also strike out the fewest in the league (5.96 K/game) while ranking seventh nationally in batting average. Rutgers is 96-47 overall since the start of the 2022 campaign, including an impressive 41-10 mark at home. However, a 51-32 record in true road games since 2022 has proven RU can win anywhere.
Purdue remains top three nationally with 32 double plays turned and enjoyed a clean week defensively on the artificial turf in Terre Haute and Columbus last week. It's another artificial turf surface this weekend in Jersey.
The Boilermakers won last year's series with Rutgers during the final weekend of April at Alexander Field, enjoying a notable edge in team on-base percentage (.400 to .303) over the three games. Connor Caskenette homered twice and Jo Stevens drove in three runs via a pair of extra-base hits in the series-opening win. Jonathan Blackwell and Aaron Suval teamed up for the game 2 win on the mound, with Suval posting four zeros as part of an 11-out save. The Scarlet Knights used a six-run seventh inning to overcome a 5-0 deficit Sunday, rallying to avoid the sweep.
Since Rutgers joined the Big Ten in 2015, the home team has won 11 of the 18 regular-season meetings in the series.
ACTIVE STREAKS
• Jo Stevens – 15-game on-base streak; 9-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 5/18/23)
• Mike Bolton Jr. – 12-game on-base streak in Big Ten play (since 4/29/23); 8-game on-base streak in all games
• Luke Gaffney – 7-game on-base streak; 6-game on-base streak in Big Ten play
• Jackson Dannelley – 14 consecutive inherited runners stranded (since 5/20/23)
WEEKEND #3 OF BIG TEN PLAY
• Purdue (2-4) at Rutgers (1-2)
• Michigan (4-2) at Iowa (4-2)
• Illinois (5-1) at Minnesota (1-2)
• Ohio State (2-1) at Nebraska (3-0)
• Indiana (1-2) at Maryland (3-3)
• Northwestern (0-3) at Penn State (1-5)
• Niagara at Michigan State (3-3)
TOP 10 IN THE BIG TEN ENTERING THE WEEKEND
• Camden Gasser – 1st in OBP (.542), 1st in Walks (31), T-2nd in Sac Bunts (5), T-7th in Steals (10), T-8th in Runs (29)
• Luke Gaffney – T-1st in RBI (36), 3rd in Runs (32), 4th in Slugging (.664), T-5th in Triples (2), T-6th in hits (43), T-6th in Doubles (10), 7th in OPS (1.126), 7th in Batting Avg (.391), T-8th in HR (6)
• Logan Sutter – 1st in Doubles (14), 8th in Slugging (.648), 10th in RBI (28), 10th in OPS (1.089)
• Couper Cornblum – T-1st in Triples (3), 8th in At-Bats (115)
• Jackson Dannelley – 1st in Saves (5)
• Jordan Morales – T-3rd in Wins (4), 7th in Innings (38), T-8th in Strikeouts (38)
• Luke Wagner – T-3rd in Wins (4)
• Connor Caskenette – 5th in RBI (33), T-5th in HBP (10), T-8th in HR (6)
• Mike Bolton Jr. – T-5th in Steals (11)
• Jo Stevens – T-5th in Triples (2), T-7th in HBP (9)
| 5 INNINGS OF SCORELESS RELIEF In Purdue's Alexander Field Era (2013-Pr) |
||||
| Date | Pitcher | Full Line | Opponent | Game Result |
| 3/31/2024 | Carter Doorn | 5.1 IP, 2 H, BB, 5 K | at Ohio State | W, 7-1 |
| 3/25/2022 | Landon Weins | 5.1 IP, 2 H, 0 BB, 2 K | Ohio State | W, 7-5 |
| 2/19/2022 | Ricky Castro | 5 IP, H, 2 BB, 5 K | vs South Dakota St. | W, 11-1 |
| 3/20/2019 | Kyle Wade | 6 IP, 4 H, R, 0 BB, 5 K | Bowling Green | W, 9-2 |
| 2/18/2017 | Dalton Parker | 5 IP, H, 2 BB, 2 K | at Texas State | W, 12-8 |
| 4/19/2016 | Eddie De LaRiva | 7 IP, 6 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K | Ball State | W, 9-2 |
| 4/02/2016 | Tanner Andrews | 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K | at Penn State | L, 7-6 |
| 3/19/2016 | Matt Frawley | 7 IP, 4 H, R, BB, 3 K | vs Ohio | W, 5-4 |
| 3/05/2016 | Matt Frawley | 7.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB, 6 K | at East Tennessee St. | W, 19-6 |
| 5/16/2015 | Joe Eichmann | 5.2 IP, 3 H, BB, 9 K | Penn State | W, 7-3 |
| 4/18/2014 | Matt Gibbs | 5 IP, 2 H, 2 BB, 6 K | Michigan | L, 7-6 (12) |
| 3/01/2014 | Gavin Downs | 5.2 IP, 5 H, BB, K | vs Butler | W, 3-2 |
| 4/02/2013 | Joe Eichmann | 7.2 IP, 6 H, R, BB, 4 K | Butler | L, 8-4 |
| GAFFNEY FRESHMAN RECORD WATCH | ||
| Statistical Category | Purdue Freshman Record | Luke Gaffney's Total as of April 4 |
| RBI | 53 – Kevin Plawecki, 2010 | 36 |
| Run Scored | 50 – Brett Roach, 1986 | 32 |
| Doubles | 17 – Cameron Perkins, 2010 | 10 |
| Total Bases | 119 – Perkins (2010)/Roach (1986) | 75 |
| Hits | 74 – Cameron Perkins, 2010 | 43 |
| Home Runs | 12 – Brett Roach, 1986 | 6 |
| Slugging Percentage | .583 – Brett Roach, 1986 | .664 |
| Triples | 5 – Eric Osborn, 2004 | 2 |
| CONSECUTIVE INNINGS WITHOUT ALLOWING AN EARNED RUN Since 2017; Single-Season Only |
|||
| Year | Pitcher | Consecutive IP w/o ER | App During Streak |
| 2017 | Ross Learnard | 35 2/3 | 21 |
| 2018 | Ross Learnard | 24 1/3 | 20 |
| 2024 | Luke Wagner | 22 | 4 |
| 2017 | Tanner Andrews | 13 2/3 | 2 |
| 2024 | Jordan Morales | 13 1/3 | 3 |
| 2019 | Trent Johnson | 13 1/3 | 6 |
| 2019 | Bo Hofstra | 13 1/3 | 10 |
| 2017 | Jack Dellinger | 12 1/3 | 3 |
| 2017 | Dalton Parker | 12 1/3 | 4 |
| 2022 | Landon Weins | 12 | 5 |
| 2018 | Dalton Parker | 12 | 5 |