Season Opens in Sugar Land with Purdue vs Portland

February 12, 2026 by Ben Turner

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Portland (22-30, 13-11 WCC in 2025) vs. Purdue (31-23, 11-19 Big Ten in 2025)
3-Game Series / Friday to Sunday, Feb. 13 to Feb. 15
Constellation Field / Sugar Land, Texas
Series Opener: Friday, Feb. 13 at 5 p.m. ET
Middle Game: Saturday, Feb. 14 at 12 p.m. ET (Updated Start Time)
Series Finale: Sunday, Feb. 15 at 1 p.m. ET
All-Time Series: First Meetings

PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday: Cole Van Assen (Jr, RHP) vs. Portland’s Kaden Segel (Grad, RHP)
Saturday: Zach Erdman (Sr, LHP) vs. Portland’s Morgan Codron (Jr, RHP)
Sunday: Jarvis Evans (Sr, LHP) vs. Portland’s Trey Swygart (So, RHP)

SUGAR LAND, Texas – Purdue Baseball is back at Constellation Field – the Triple-A ballpark in suburban Houston – for the season-opening weekend for a fifth straight year, kicking off a seven-game, 11-day road trip in Texas with a three-game series vs. Portland.

Friday, Feb. 13 is the national Opening Day for NCAA Division I Baseball. With Feb. 1 falling on a Sunday this year, Feb. 13 represents the earliest Opening Day can be based on the third weekend in February standard that has been utilized for approximately 20 years.

Game times in Sugar Land are set for Friday at 5 p.m. ET, Saturday at noon ET and Sunday at 1p.m. ET. Saturday was originally scheduled to be a doubleheader as part of a four-game series, but the teams agreed to move to a traditional three-game set in early February. Game time was also moved up to an 11 a.m. local start due to afternoon thunderstorms in the forecast.

Constellation Field is the home of the Sugar Land Space Cowboys, the Houston Astros Triple-A affiliate in the Pacific Coast League. Purdue has compiled a 14-2 record at Constellation Field since 2022, sweeping South Dakota State in 2022 and Stephen F. Austin last year, along with winning three of four vs. Holy Cross (2023) and Stony Brook (2024).

The Boilermakers are 6-0 in season openers under seventh-year head coach Greg Goff. They've also won eight of their last nine openers since 2017. Purdue is opening its season in the same location for five straight years for the first time since 2009-13, when the Big East/Big Ten Challenge was an annual event in the Clearwater-St. Petersburg area of Florida's Gulf Coast.

Junior Cole Van Assen as the Boilermakers’ longest tenured player and has ascended to the Friday starter role to lead the weekend rotation. He pitched very well at Constellation Field as an underclassman, working a combined 9 2/3 innings of six-hit ball. The righthander has not issued a walk in Sugar Land and both runs he’s been charged with were unearned.

Last season, Sergio DeCello homered in Purdue’s season-opening win and CJ Richmond posted a two-double game Sunday as the Boilermakers completed the sweep.

PURDUE’S 2025 LEADERS IN SUGAR LAND
• Sergio DeCello: 5-for-13, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, HBP, 5 R
• CJ Richmond: 4-for-15, 2 2B, 2 RBI, BB, HBP, 5 R, SB
• Avery Moore: 2-for-8, 2B, 5 RBI, HBP, Sac Fly, R
• Cole Van Assen: 6 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 4 K
• Gavin Beuter: 2 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 3 K

Purdue's 36-man travel roster for the opening weekend features 13 returnees and 23 true newcomers. Of the 20 newcomers, nine have prior Division I experience. Lefthanders Zach Erdman and Jarvis Evans were chosen to follow Van Assen in the weekend rotation. Erdman (Texas Tech) and Evans (Georgia and South Carolina) have previously pitched for power conference teams and both have worked 60-plus innings during their collegiate careers.

Portland enjoyed three straight 30-win seasons from 2022-24, posting a combined 102-66 record – a stretch punctuated with a 39-19 campaign in 2024. Last season, the Pilots finished above .500 in West Coast Conference play for the fifth straight year and won both meeting with Big Ten co-champion Oregon.

The Boilermakers have never played a team from the state of Oregon previously, but this season they’ll face Portland, Oregon State and Oregon over the first 14 games of the year. The Beavers are the final opponent at next weekend’s Round Rock Classic at the Triple-A Dell Diamond in the Austin area. Purdue also plays Wednesday evening at Rice as part of the 11-day road trip in Texas.

The Boilermakers have not played a West Coast Conference opponent since splitting two games with Gonzaga at Arizona State’s tournament in February 2015.

D1BASEBALL.COM’S BOILERMAKERS TO WATCH
• Star Power: Cole Van Assen
• Glue Guys: Eli Anderson, Aaron Manias, CJ Richmond
• Top Newcomers: Jackson Bessette, Sam Flores
• Picks to Click: Dylan Drake, Ross Highfill
• Impact Freshman: Westin Boyle
• Top 200 Starting Pitcher: Cole Van Assen
• Top Prospect, 2026 MLB Draft: Ross Highfill

#TBT to the penultimate preseason practice in Mollenkopf. #BoilerUp pic.twitter.com/2CI63XaTNS
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) February 12, 2026

We’re Back ⭐️

1st look of 2026 at Constellation Field. 78 degrees & pure sunshine for practice. #BoilerUp 🏟️ 👀 pic.twitter.com/Y8PlUDEm2P
— Purdue Baseball (@PurdueBaseball) February 12, 2026

2026 ROSTER BREAKDOWN
RETURNING STARTERS (5)
Boilermaker (Year)	Position(s)	Hometown	Year at Purdue
Aaron Manias (R-Sr)	DH/IF/OF	Uxbridge, Ontario	2nd
From the Countdown: Manias is another big lefthanded bat we're thrilled to have back in the lineup for his Year 2 at Purdue. He started games at 3 different positions & connected for 18 XBH in 2025, a fun campaign that featured an 8-RBI game, 1.000 OPS & 2 Grand Slams. The Academic All-American has maintained a 4.0 GPA through 3 semesters at Purdue.
CJ Richmond (5th)	1B/DH	Indianapolis, Ind.	2nd
From the Countdown: Richmond homered in his Alexander Field debut last year, connecting for a thrilling walk-off HR vs ASU less than a week later. We sorely missed his bat in the lineup while he was sidelined in March with a broken hamate bone & now we're excited to see what the slugger can accomplish in a full season at Purdue. A return to his All-Region form of 2024 (33 XBH, 67 RBI at Western Michigan) is in the cards we'd wager.
Eli Anderson (Sr)	OF	Fairmont, Minn.	2nd
From the Countdown: Anderson made the most of his PT (.380, 19 RBI, 19 SB in 79 ABs) & finished strong in Year 1 at Purdue. He hit .458 during a season-ending 13-game hit streak, our longest to close a campaign since 2009. As 1 of 2 Boilers to start in all 3 outfield positions, he batted a team-best .483 with RISP. The speedster had 59 steals over his 2 years at North Iowa Area CC.
Brandon Rogers (Sr)	OF	Chicago, Ill.	2nd
From the Countdown: We've never seen anyone go get it in CF at Alexander quite like Rogers. He made each of his 6 most amazing catches in Big Ten play. Offensively, B-Rog reached base 50% of time to lead off an inning, led the team with a .542 OBP in March & was a flawless 10 of 10 on steals for the season. He was a 2-time Pac-12 champion in 2024 at Arizona.
Sergio DeCello (R-Sr)	C/OF	Hamilton, Ohio	2nd
From the Countdown: DeCello is our switch-hitting sparkplug whose aggressiveness & versatility impacts winning. He threw out 39% of base stealers as Purdue went 14-6 in his starts last season. Sergio had an RBI in all 3 games of the series win vs. Rutgers, going deep in the opener. He also homered in both games of a doubleheader & had a rare 4-walk game.
TOP RETURNING PITCHERS (3)
Boilermaker (Year)	RHP/LHP	Hometown	Year at Purdue
Cole Van Assen (Jr)	RHP	Tinley Park, Ill.	3rd
From the Countdown: Thrilled to have Van Assen headlining the weekend rotation after he performed like an ace over the 2nd half of 2025, registering a 2.67 ERA over 30 IP from April 5-May 10. He rolled up 7 double plays vs 2 HR against in a team-high 67 IP last year. CVA has represented Purdue on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team & Academic All-Big Ten list.
Austin Klug (Sr)	RHP	Caledonia, Minn.	2nd
From the Countdown: Klug was an effective addition to the Bullpen in Year 1 at Purdue, pitching in each of the final 9 Big Ten series. He earned a save in the Game 2 win vs Northwestern & worked a combined 5 IP of 3-hit relief vs UCLA & Rutgers. No surprise the NJCAA Academic All-American was an Academic All-B1G honoree last season.
Gavin Beuter (Sr)	RHP	Three Rivers, Mich.	2nd
From the Countdown: Beuter is back as a prime candidate to make the Year 2 leap at Purdue. The Academic All-Big Ten honoree opened 2025 with 9 1/3 shutout innings & 12 Ks vs 5 hits over 3 appearances, ultimately making his first 8 appearances in victories. He started Kellogg CC's first game at the 2024 NJCAA DII World Series.
RETURNEES READY FOR MORE OPPORTUNITIES IN 2026 (5)
Boilermaker (Year)	Position(s)	Hometown	Year at Purdue
Avery Moore (Sr)	OF	Omaha, Neb.	2nd
From the Countdown: Moore is at the top of the list for potential breakout Boilermakers in his Year 2 at Purdue. See his September Slam at Cincinnati as one piece of evidence. In 2025, Avery reached base safely in his first 10 games and batted .318 with RISP. The 2024 NJCAA DI All-American at Southeast CC was also All-State & a State Champion at Millard West HS in Omaha.
Nick Kolze (Sr)	RHP	Romeoville, Ill.	2nd
From the Countdown: Kolze is in line for more innings in Year 2 at Purdue. He enjoyed quality outings vs Michigan, UCLA, ASU last year & then impressed (2.02 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 22 K in 26 IP) in summer ball for the Lima Locos. The Academic All-Big Ten honoree started an NJCAA DII World Series game for Heartland in 2024.
Joe Trenerry (So)	RHP	Granger, Ind.	2nd
From the Countdown: Trenerry found his way into 10 games as a true freshman, flashing pitchability & feel beyond his years. He was our first freshman to make a weekend start on the mound since 2022 & went on to finish the year with 14 Ks vs 5 BB, 10 Hits in 10 2/3 IP. Joe was a two-time State Champion at Penn HS, finishing his prep career with a 1.95 ERA & 151 Ks in 104 IP.
Thomas Lynch (R-Fr)	C	Evansville, Ind.	2nd
From the Countdown: Lynch is another 2nd-year Boilermaker we're eager to see debut this spring. He's demonstrated a strong all-fields approach from the left side of the plate. The 4-year varsity starter at Evansville Memorial HS was Indiana's #3 ranked catcher in his class. Both his parents & older brother are Purdue alumni.
Evan Schweizer (R-Fr)	RHP	Oakville, Ontario	2nd
From the Countdown: Eager to see Schweizer make his team debut this year after he returned to the mound from injury in the fall. He was ranked among Ontario's Top 25 players in his class by PBR, helping his Great Lakes Canadians team win Boys of Summer, Grand Park & CPBL tourneys.
NEWCOMERS WITH DI EXPERIENCE (9)
Boilermaker (Year)	Position(s)	Hometown	Transferred From / Played D-I At
Zach Erdman (Sr)	LHP	Keller, Texas	Texas Tech
From the Countdown: An experienced lefty from the Lone Star State, Erdman joins us after serving as a starter & reliever at Texas Tech. He enjoyed quality outings at the Big 12 Tournament in consecutive years & was effective in midweek starts vs. Arkansas & Stanford in 2024. Over the summer, he posted a 1.29 ERA & 21 Ks vs 3 walks across 6 starts in the California Collegiate League.
Jarvis Evans (Sr)	LHP	Buford, Ga.	South Carolina
From the Countdown: Evans is another leading candidate for our weekend rotation after pitching 107 innings in the SEC. The lefty served as both a weekend & midweek starter for South Carolina in 2025 and racked up 72 K vs 54 hits allowed in 60 IP for Georgia from 2023-24. He pitched in an NCAA Regional Final & the SEC Tournament at UGA.
Sam Flores (Sr)	3B/DH	Lufkin, Texas	Kansas State
From the Countdown: Flores fortifies the middle of our lineup with another lethal lefthanded bat. He started Opening Day, Big 12 Tourney & NCAA Regional Games in his lone season at K-State. Sam hit .316/.419/.545 with 27 XBH, 68 RBI & 16 SB as an all-conference third baseman at McLennan CC in 2024. He homered at the NJCAA DI World Series.
Jackson Bessette (Sr)	C	Bartlett, Ill.	UIC
From the Countdown: It was a big add to bring aboard Bessette, a seasoned backstop with a bevy of college experience. He hit .296/.412/.506 with 47 XBH, 19 HR, 89 RBI in 429 ABs over 3 years at UIC, earning All-MVC honors in 2024. Jackson enjoyed a multi-HR game at Alexander Field in 2025 & a 5-hit game at Northwestern in 2023. As a high school senior, he batted .511 with a .596 OBP.
Ross Highfill (R-Jr)	C/OF	Madison, Miss.	Mississippi State
From the Countdown: Athletic & Versatile, Highfill can help us behind the plate & in the outfield. And most certainly with his bat. He registered 12 Doubles, 12 HR & 50 RBI in 255 ABs over 88 games at Mississippi State. Ross enjoyed both a 3-HR game & 3-HR weekend in 2023. He's played in the Cape Cod League & helped Madison HS win a state title.
Charlie Vercruysse (R-Fr)	3B/2B/SS	Bloomington, Ill.	Notre Dame
From the Countdown: Vercruysse is capable of contributing all across the infield & we're eager for his debut after a redshirt year at Notre Dame. He was a Great Lakes League All-Star & Player of the Week for the Lima Locos in in the summer of 2025. As a 4-year varsity starter at U-High in Central Illinois, he set season (49) & career (137) records for hits while racking up 59 XBH, 95 RBI & 66 SB.
Thomas Howard (R-So)	RHP	Lexington, Ky.	John A. Logan JC/Louisville
From the Countdown: Howard has the potential to be a constant in our weekend rotation. He was the Conference Pitcher of the Year in his lone season at John A. Logan College, posting a 2.69 ERA & 1.14 WHIP in 70 innings. The 2-sport standout at Frederick Douglass HS was an All-Region tight end for a 15-0 state champion team & an All-State performer on the mound.
Trey Swiderski (Jr)	OF	Joliet, Ill.	John A. Logan JC/Louisville
From the Countdown: Swiderski has 5-Tool Upside as an outfielder with speed, range & a power bat. He was a 2-time Region XXIV Gold Glove winner at John A. Logan College. At the plate, he posted a 1.031 OPS, 62 XBH, 120 RBI & 35 SB while helping JAL go 95-22 over 2 years. Trey was also All-State & a 2-time IHSA State Champ at Joliet Academy.
Trevor Kester-Johnson (R-Jr)	LHP	Morgan Hill, Calif.	Santa Barbara City JC/UC Santa Barbara
From the Countdown: Kester-Johnson bolsters the bullpen as a crafty southpaw from the West Coast who will be a muddling matchup for lefties. In 2025, TKJ posted a 1.52 ERA & 6.1 Hits/9 clip in 23 IP over 19 app at Santa Barbara City College. He's already overcome labrum surgery as a teen & played for winning programs at Live Oak HS, UCSB & SBCC.
MORE TRANSFERS (9)
Boilermaker (Year)	Position(s)	Hometown	Transferred From
Dylan Drake (Jr)	SS/2B	Sacramento, Calif.	Sacramento City JC
From the Countdown: Drake can be a difference maker defensively at either middle infield position & with his dynamic lefthanded bat. He hit .395/.497/.621 in 2025 at Sac City College as the school's Athlete of the Year, homering as part of a 3-hit day in a 3C2A playoff game while returning from a broken collar bone. Dylan batted .530 & raised his average by .300 points from the previous season to garner Section North Player of the Year as a HS senior.
Zach Zychowski (Jr)	2B/SS	Cedar Lake, Ind.	Southwestern Illinois JC
From the Countdown: Don't sleep on the impact Zychowski can have on our middle infield – elite speed & contact rate for one of the Region's finest. He batted .367 w/ 80 RBI, 58 BB vs 29 K & 41 SB as a 2-year starting SS & 2025 All-Region honoree at SW Illinois College. Zach started the 2021 IHSAA 3A state title game for Hanover Central HS.
Jake Kramer (Sr)	RHP	Greensburg, Pa.	California (Pa.)
From the Countdown: Kramer was a 2-time NCBWA DII All-American closer at California (Pa.). He earned 27 saves & 11 wins in 59 career appearances for the Vulcans, compiling a 2.03 ERA & 0.97 WHIP in 93 innings. His 27 saves were all-time school and conference records, while also establishing a single-season team record with 11 saves in 2025.
Jacob Boland (So)	RHP	Fairfield, Ohio	Chipola JC
From the Countdown: Another new name to know in our bullpen: Jacob Boland, who has the potential to be a high-leverage arm in the 7th/8th inning. He's a seasoned sophomore after pitching in the Panhandle Conference (Chipola JC) & Costal Plain League (Greenville) last year. As a HS senior in the Cincinnati area, he racked up 82 K vs 14 walks in 53 IP & threw 4 complete-game shutouts.
Graham Kollen (Grad)	RHP	Fort Wayne, Ind.	Huntington
From the Countdown: Kollen was a workhorse at Huntington Univ., graduating with 20 Wins & 18 CG while throwing 256 innings. He was an NAIA All-American & the Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2023 after registering a 2.84 ERA, 1.14 WHIP & 94 K in 82 IP. His strikeout rate climbed to 11 K/9 (94 K in 77 IP) as a senior.
Jimmy Dionne (Sr)	1B	Quebec City, Quebec	Howard JC
From the Countdown: Dionne is our newest international import by way of West Texas & we're eager to see his lefty power bat take aim at RF at Alexander. The NJCAA DI All-American at Howard College ranked Top 10 nationally with 22 HR & 45 XBH in 2025. He batted .400 both years at Howard & in the summer of 2024 for an Amsterdam team that won the PGCBL.
Quincy Malbrough (Jr)	OF	Loomis, Calif.	Folsom Lake JC
From the Countdown: No qualms about the impact Malbrough's speed & athleticism can have in the outfield. He's proven a quick study since joining us from NorCal, where he was an all-conference honoree at both Folsom Lake College & Del Oro HS. Quincy hit .359/.475/.516 with 12 XBH, 41 RBI, 20 SB in 2024 & enjoyed an 11-game hit streak early the following year before an illness. He erupted for a 3-HR, 9-RBI day in his 3rd collegiate game.
Ali Banks (Jr)	IF/OF	Stone Mountain, Ga.	Georgia Highlands JC
From the Countdown: With elite athleticism, speed & versatility, Banks could play 2B-SS-3B & RF-CF-LF all in the same game if needed. He hit .379/.503/.534 with 33 XBH, 93 RBI, 37 SB over 2 years at Georgia Highlands College, homering at the 2024 NJCAA DI World Series. Ali helps teams win: he was a state champion & part of 3 straight 30-win seasons at Parkview HS; GHC was 101-22 during his 2 years.
Jackson Greer (R-So)	RHP	Cartersville, Ga.	Georgia Highlands JC
From the Countdown: Greer fortifies our bullpen in a big way after a breakout 2025 in his lone JUCO season. He registered 5 saves while racking up 41 K in 34 IP for a 45-win Georgia Highlands team, earning GCAC All-Tournament Team honors after closing out semifinal & championship game wins. 78 K, 1.23 ERA, 0.82 WHIP to earn All-State honors as a HS senior.
TRUE FRESHMEN (5)
Boilermaker	Position(s)	Hometown	High School
Westin Boyle	SS/3B	Overland Park, Kan.	St. Thomas Aquinas
From the Countdown: Boyle has 5-tool upside at SS & is in line to be the 1st freshman to see the field this spring. He led St. Thomas Aquinas HS to 50 wins & back-to-back KSHSAA 5A state titles as an upperclassman. Westin was Kansas’ #1-ranked SS in his class by Perfect Game. He comes from an athletic family – his dad & uncle played college football, his brother is a future DI baseball player.
Lucas Grant	LHP	Joliet, Ill.	Joliet Catholic
From the Countdown: Grant is an electric lefty & potential Friday starter in future seasons. He was All-State & the Conference Pitcher of the Year as a senior at Joliet Catholic, registering 116 K vs 13 BB, 1.00 ERA & 0.63 WHIP in 66 IP. A dominant 18-K performance in an IHSA Playoff win highlighted a season in which he had 5 outings with 10+ Ks & 7 Complete Games.
Tro Fellings	LHP	Kalamazoo, Mich.	Kalamazoo Central
From the Countdown: Fellings has instant impact upside as a 6-foot-4 Lefty that can help us in the bullpen or midweek role. The Kalamazoo native enjoyed his breakout season in 2024, registering a 0.24 ERA, 49 Ks vs 8 hits in 30 IP. He was an MHSBCA East-West All-Star Game selection the following year & played at Comerica Park. Tro had 100+ career hits at the plate as a 2-way standout at KCHS.
Noah Filer	RHP	Wayzata, Minn.	Wayzata
From the Countdown: Filer was among the top prep pitchers in the Twin Cities area. We're excited about the pure potential & upside for the 2-time All-State honoree. He was the MHSBCA Class AAAA Player of the Year & a Minnesota Mr. Baseball finalist as a senior. As an upperclassman at Wayzata HS, Noah was 14-0 with 117 K vs 55 hits in 94 IP.
Kaden Frei	2B/3B	West Orange, N.J.	Seton Hall Prep
From the Countdown: Frei has a bright future leading off, stealing bases & turning 2 at Alexander. The Jersey native hit .388 with 23 SB & 35 runs as the leadoff man for a 22-2 team his senior year at Seton Hall Prep, racking up 42 total steals as an upperclassman. Kaden was an All-County & All-Conference honoree plus the Salutatorian of his HS class. His parents Erik & Michelle are Purdue Alumni.