Purdue Hosts Penn State for Home Weekend #2

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Penn State (5-13, 1-2 Big Ten) at Purdue (13-6, 3-3 Big Ten)
March 20-22 / Alexander Field / West Lafayette, Ind.
Series Opener: Friday, March 20 at 4 p.m. ET on BTN & Fox Sports App
Middle Game: Saturday, March 21 at 2 p.m. ET on B1G+
Series Finale: Sunday, March 22 at 1 p.m. ET on B1G+

WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
Saturday: Purdue mini helmet giveaway & unlimited popcorn for first 100 kids (8th grade & younger)
Sunday: Set 1 (of 4) of Purdue trading cards giveaway; bark in the park dog day

PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday: Cole Van Assen (Jr, RHP) vs. PSU’s Collin Fitzgerald (R-Sr, RHP)
Saturday: Zach Erdman (Sr, LHP) vs. PSU’s Ben Hudson (So, RHP)
Sunday: Jarvis Evans (Sr, LHP) vs. PSU’s Isaiah Shayter (Fr, RHP)

SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Purdue leads 56-38
All-Time in West Lafayette: Purdue leads 30-15
Purdue Under Greg Goff vs. Penn State: Tied 6-6 (Since 2020)
2025: Penn State won 2 of 3 (April 18-20 in University Park)
Last Series in West Lafayette: Purdue won 2 of 3 (April 2023)
First Meeting: Purdue 4, Penn State 2 (March 1983 in Lakeland, Fla.)

WEST LAFYAYETTE, Ind. – With another 70-degree weekend on tap as spring officially arrives in sun-splashed fashion, Purdue Baseball continues a six-game homestand with its first weekend series of the season against a team it also played last year – Penn State.

First pitch at Alexander Field is set for 4 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Friday’s game will be televised live by the Big Ten Network (and stream live on the Fox Sports app). BTN will be televising a March game at Alexander for the first time since 2016.

Of the Boilermakers’ 13 weekend series opponents this season, only four – Penn State, Illinois, Northwestern and Indiana – were also on the schedule last year. Purdue is set to play PSU, Illinois and Northwestern over a stretch of four weeks during a very travel friendly portion of the schedule. Beginning with Wednesday’s home win, Purdue is slated to play 15 of its 22 games at Alexander Field. The only road trips during that stretch are relatively short ones to East Lansing (March 27-29), Terre Haute (March 31) and Evanston (April 10-12). Penn State, Illinois (April 3-5) and Ohio State (April 17-19) all come to West Lafayette before Purdue flies to Los Angeles for the final weekend of April and a series at USC.

WEEKEND #3 OF BIG TEN PLAY
• Penn State (1-2) at Purdue (3-3)
• Rutgers (2-1) at Illinois (2-4)
• Iowa (2-1) at Michigan State (1-5)
• Minnesota (1-2) at Indiana (1-5)
• Nebraska (3-0) at Michigan (0-3)
• Maryland (1-2) at UCLA (6-0)
• Washington (4-2) at USC (5-1)
• Northwestern (1-2) at Oregon (5-1)
• Butler at Ohio State (1-5) – Non-Conference

ACTIVE STREAKS
• Brandon Rogers: 13-game on-base; 11-game on base in Big Ten play (Since April 27, 2025); 8-game on-base at home (since May 3, 2025)
• Aaron Manias: 10-game on-base; 6-game on-base in Big Ten play; 5-game on-base at home
• Westin Boyle: 6-game on-base; scored a run in 5 straight games
• Sam Flores: 6-game on-base
• Dylan Drake: 5-game hit; scored a run in 5 straight games
• Jimmy Dionne: 5-game hit at home
• Ross Highfill: 5-game on-base
• Zach Erdman: At least 5 strikeouts in 5 straight starts
• Purdue has hit a home run in 6 consecutive games

The Boilermakers have scored 61 runs over the last five games, their fourth-highest total over a five-game stretch of the BBCOR bat era (2011-present). Purdue has hit a home run in six straight games, the team’s longest streak since connecting for at least one in the first 17 games of March last year. The streak was finally snapped in the final game of the month, a March 30 home loss vs. UCLA.

Last weekend at Maryland, the Boilers hit 10 home runs in a Big Ten series for the first time this century – and likely for the first time ever. Their 11 home runs in a four-game set vs. Holy Cross during the opening weekend of 2023 marks the only other double-digit home run weekend this century. Five of the 10 home runs in College Park were of the game-tying or go-ahead variety.

Last year’s Purdue-Penn State series in Central Pennsylvania featured a combined 50 runs on 56 hits, but just three homers – one for the visitors and two from the Nittany Lions. All three games of the series did feature long stretches of unanswered runs. Penn State scored 10 unanswered tallies on both Friday and Saturday, winning 10-2 and 13-6. The Lions were back at it Sunday with eight unanswered runs, but Purdue responded with eight unanswered of its own to salvage the series finale 11-8.

The Boilermakers and Nittany Lions both won on Friday last weekend with a long stretch of unanswered runs. Purdue took down Maryland 16-5 thanks to 14 unanswered runs. Penn State opened Big Ten play with a bang – a five-run first inning and nine unanswered runs vs. Iowa in an 11-6 win. But the Hawkeyes came back to take the series. The Lions have yet to win consecutive games this season and are just 2-8 when batting first this season (1-7 in road games, 1-1 as designated visitor at a neutral site).

The home team has won each of the last four Purdue-Penn State series dating back to 2019. The Boilermakers won a pair of one-run games to sweep an April 2023 doubleheader vs. Penn State and take the last series at Alexander. At the time it was Purdue’s first doubleheader sweep at home in Big Ten play since 2012.

Purdue pitching coach Josh Newman held the same position at Penn State from 2018-23.

PURDUE’S GAMES WITH 5+ HOME RUNS
Date	Home Runs	Who Went Deep	Opponent & Result
4/27/2024	6	Jo Stevens (2x) Mike Bolton Jr. Luke Gaffney Connor Caskenette Keenan Spence	at Northwestern (W, 10-7)
4/16/2006	6	Neal Gorka (2x) Ryne White (2x) Jordan Comadena Jeff Mojzik	at Indiana (W, 25-8)
3/13/2026	5	Brandon Rogers Ross Highfill Dylan Drake (Slam) Ali Banks Sam Flores	at Maryland (W, 16-5)
2/19/2023	5	Jake Jarvis (2x) Mike Bolton Jr. Couper Cornblum Cam Thompson	vs Holy Cross (W, 12-2) …Sugar Land, Texas
4/16/2010	5	Drew Madia (2x) Kevin Plawecki Cameron Perkins Jon Moore	Penn State (W, 18-7)
3/30/2010	5	Stephen Talbott (2x) Nick Overmyer (2x) Jon Moore	at Missouri (L, 22-14)

 

SCORED 50+ RUNS OVER A 5-GAME STRETCH (BBCOR Bat Era, 2011-Present)
Year	Total Runs	Opponents	Game Scores
2023	66	Akron (3x) Ole Miss (2x)	W, 17-9 W, 13-0 (7 Innings) W, 23-4 (7 Innings) L, 15-7 L, 7-6 (10 Innings)
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
2024	62	Michigan State (3x) Ball State East Tennessee State	W, 7-2 W, 14-0 W, 21-1 W, 13-3 (7 Innings) L, 9-7
2026	61	Milwaukee Maryland (3x) Oakland City	W, 17-1 W, 16-5 W, 8-6 L, 10-9 W, 11-3
2025	61	Stephen F. Austin (2x) Niagara (3x)	W, 14-2 W, 16-12 W, 6-4 W, 16-4 W, 9-0
2022	59	Northern Illinois Indiana State Indiana (3x)	W, 17-14 L, 10-6 (10 Innings) 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
2024	56	UAlbany (4x) Northern Illinois	W, 11-3 W, 6-1 W, 16-6 (7 Innings) W, 12-1 (7 Innings) W, 11-1
2011	56	vs Pitt at Morehead State (2x)	W, 5-3 W, 11-8 L, 10-9 (11 Innings) W, 18-1 W, 17-9
2025	55	vs Akron (4x) at Indiana State	W, 5-0 W, 13-3 L, 10-9 (11 Innings) W, 14-4 (8 Innings) W, 14-4 (8 Innings)
2026	53	Marist (4x) Oregon	W, 9-4 W, 11-10 W, 8-2 W, 18-1 (7 Innings) L, 8-7

 

BIG INNING BOILERMAKERS – PROLIFIC RALLIES OF NOTE SINCE 2023
Date	Runs	Inning	Opponent	Game Result
4/27/2025	14	T-3rd	at Illinois	W, 20-4 (7 Innings)
3/05/2023	13	B-4th	vs Akron	W, 23-4 (7 Innings)
5/01/2024	11	B-3rd	DePauw	W, 15-0 (7 Innings)
3/01/2025	10	B-7th	vs Akron	W, 13-3 (7 Innings)
3/03/2024	10	T-1st	vs Cal State Fullerton	W, 11-3
2/25/2024	10	B-5th	vs George Mason	W, 11-1 (7 Innings)
3/04/2023	9	B-3rd	vs Akron	W, 17-9
3/13/2026	8	T-9th	at Maryland	W, 16-5
5/06/2025	8	B-4th	Ball State	W, 14-4 (7 Innings)
3/15/2025	8	B-8th	UIC	W, 9-3
3/02/2025	8	B-1st	vs Akron	W, 14-4
2/22/2025	8	B-5th	vs Niagara	W, 16-4
4/04/2023	8	B-2nd	Evansville	L, 12-10
3/04/2023	8	B-1st	vs Akron	W, 13-0
3/14/2026	7	T-2nd	at Maryland	W, 8-6
2/23/2025	7	B-6th	vs Niagara	W, 11-1
4/16/2024	7	B-3rd	Ball State	W, 13-3
4/14/2024	7	B-6th	Michigan State	W, 21-1
3/10/2024	7	B-3rd	UAlbany	W, 16-6
3/10/2024	7	B-1st	UAlbany	W, 16-6
4/19/2023	7	B-3rd	Butler	W, 16-9
4/08/2023	7	T-9th	at Minnesota	W, 15-3
3/10/2026	6	B-2nd	Milwaukee	W, 17-1
4/22/2025	6	B-8th	Austin Peay	L, 16-10
2/16/2025	6	B-3rd	vs SFA	W, 16-12
2/15/2025	6	B-1st	vs SFA	W, 14-2
4/20/2024	6	B-4th	East Tennessee St.	W, 18-7
4/14/2024	6	B-8th	Michigan State	W, 21-1
3/30/2024	6	T-3rd	at Ohio State	L, 12-10
3/09/2024	6	B-1st	UAlbany	W, 11-3
Full 4-Year Scoring Breakdown – 14: 1, 13: 1, 11: 1, 10: 3, 9: 1, 8: 7, 7: 8, 6: 7

 

MULTIPLE GRAND SLAMS IN A SEASON IN THE BBCOR BAT ERA (Since 2011)
Season	Boilermakers	Opponents	Locations	Innings	Game Results
2026	Sergio DeCello Dylan Drake	vs Marist at Maryland	Holly Springs, NC College Park	B-6th T-8th	W, 18-1 W, 16-5
2025	Aaron Manias Logan Sutter Aaron Manias Breck Nowik Brandon Anderson	Ball State UIC at Minnesota vs Akron vs Niagara	Alexander Field Alexander Field Minneapolis Holly Springs Holly Springs, NC	B-4th B-8th T-7th B-1st B-5th	W, 14-4 W, 9-3 W, 11-6 W, 14-4 W, 16-4
2024	Logan Sutter Luke Gaffney Connor Caskenette Connor Caskenette	DePauw ETSU Ball State vs Stony Brook	Alexander Field Alexander Field Alexander Field Sugar Land	B-3rd B-4th B-7th B-6th	W, 15-0 W, 17-7 W, 13-3 W, 13-6
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
2023	Jake Parr Jake Jarvis Jake Jarvis	vs Akron Northern Illinois at Minnesota	Holly Springs Alexander Field Minneapolis	B-1st B-7th T-9th	W, 13-0 W, 14-5 W, 15-3
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
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	B-4th T-6th	W, 6-2 W, 15-8
BOILERMAKERS TO HIT MULTIPLE GRAND SLAMS (Since 2001)
Dates	Boilermaker	Opponents	Locations	Innings	Game Results
4/16/2010 5/14/2009 4/01/2009	Drew Madia	Penn State Illinois IPFW	Lambert Field Lambert Field Fort Wayne	B-2nd B-8th T-3rd	W, 18-7 W, 12-5 L, 22-19
4/19/2008 4/06/2008 5/19/2007	Dan Black	at Ohio State at Iowa at Northwestern	Columbus Iowa City Evanston	T-3rd T-2nd T-5th	W, 8-0 W, 16-3 L, 9-6
4/02/2003 5/15/2002 4/21/2001	Daniel Underwood	at Ball State Evansville at Illinois	Muncie Lambert Field Champaign	T-5th T-2nd T-3rd	L, 17-14 W, 6-2 W, 16-2
3/08/2025 5/06/2025	Aaron Manias	at Minnesota Ball State	Minneapolis Alexander Field	T-7th B-4th	W, 11-6 W, 14-4
3/15/2025 5/01/2024	Logan Sutter	UIC DePauw	Alexander Field Alexander Field	B-8th B-3rd	W, 9-3 W, 15-0
4/16/2024 2/18/2024	Connor Caskenette	Ball State vs Stony Brook	Alexander Field Sugar Land, TX	B-7th B-6th	W, 13-3 W, 13-6
4/08/2023 3/15/2023	Jake Jarvis	at Minnesota Northern Illinois	Minneapolis Alexander Field	T-9th B-7th	W, 15-3 W, 14-5
3/04/2023 5/20/2021	Jake Parr	vs Akron at Minnesota	Holly Springs, NC Minneapolis	B-1st T-5th	W, 13-0 W, 9-3
5/21/2021 2/15/2020	Miles Simington	at Minnesota vs Hofstra	Minneapolis Sanford, FL	T-3rd B-8th	W, 12-5 W, 10-4
3/22/2016 3/05/2016	Kyle Johnson	at Ball State at ETSU	Muncie Johnson City	T-2nd T-7th	L, 9-8 W, 19-6
4/16/2006 4/14/2006	Neal Gorka	at Indiana at Indiana	Bloomington Bloomington	T-2nd T-6th	W, 25-8 L, 8-4
2/25/2005 5/26/2004	Andy Dahl	at FAU vs Michigan State	Boca Raton Minneapolis	T-6th T-8th	L, 6-4 W, 6-5