GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Ohio State (19-16, 9-6 Big Ten) at Purdue (25-11, 12-6 Big Ten)
April 17-19 / Stream B1G+
Series Opener: Friday, April 17 at 6 p.m. ET
Middle Game: Saturday, April 18 at 2 p.m. ET
Series Finale: Sunday, April 19 at 1 p.m. ET
Alexader Field / West Lafayette, Indiana
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday: Cole Van Assen (Jr, RHP) vs. OSU’s Gavin Kuzniewski (So, RHP)
Saturday: Zach Erdman (Sr, LHP) vs. OSU’s Chris Domke (Jr, RHP)
Sunday: Austin Klug (Sr, RHP) vs. OSU’s Pierce Herrenbruck (Jr, RHP)
WEEKEND PROMOTIONS
Friday: Purdue Rope Hat Giveaway; Fishin’ in the Park
Saturday: Purdue Baseball Alumni Day
Sunday: Bark in the Park Dog Day; Trading Cards Set #2 Giveaway & Postgame Autographs from the Sophomores
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Ohio State leads 156-69-1
All-Time in West Lafayette: OSU leads 67-39-1
Purdue Under Greg Goff vs. Ohio State: OSU leads 5-3 (Since 2020)
Last Series: OSU won 2 of 3 (March 2024 in Columbus)
Last Meeting in West Lafayette: Purdue 7, OSU 5 (March 2022 – Games 2 & 3 Canceled)
Purdue's Last Series Win vs. OSU: Purdue won 2 of 3 (April 2017 in Columbus)
Purdue's Last Series Win vs. OSU in West Lafayette: Purdue swept a 4-game set (May 1987)
First Meeting: Purdue 4, OSU 3 (May 1913 in West Lafayette)
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – For a Big Ten spotlight series featuring two teams that have both lost just one conference game since March 28, Purdue Baseball hosts Ohio State for the first time since the opening weekend of league play in 2022.
First pitch at Alexander Field is set for 6 p.m. Friday, 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. There are giveaways planned for Friday (Boiler Up rope hat) and Sunday (trading cards set 2 of 4) as well as the annual Purdue Baseball Alumni Day on Saturday. The Boilermakers are set to welcome back approximately 50 alumni for the full day of festivities, which includes a morning batting practice session, pregame tailgate and in-game recognition by decade after the alumni help welcome the Boilermakers to the field for the National Anthem.
For the second weekend in a row at Alexander, both teams have won at least three consecutive series. Purdue has joined No. 1 UCLA (18-0 B1G) as the only teams to win five consecutive Big Ten series this season. The Boilermakers have won 11 of 15 during that stretch, including seven of their last eight in conference play. Since opening their league slate 1-5, the Buckeyes have won eight of their last nine games in Big Ten play. That hot stretch was ignited by consecutive sweeps – at Minnesota and vs. Maryland.
Around the Big Ten this weekend, USC-Nebraska in Lincoln is the only other series featuring two teams that are both over .500 in the conference play.
WEEKEND #7 OF BIG TEN PLAY
• Ohio State (9-6) at Purdue (12-6)
• USC (13-5) at Nebraska (12-3)
• Oregon (10-5) at Illinois (7-8)
• Minnesota (5-10) at UCLA (18-0)
• Michigan State (6-12) at Washington (7-8)
• Northwestern (5-10) at Michigan (7-8)
• Rutgers (5-10) at Penn State (4-11)
• Maryland (4-11) at Iowa (5-10)
• Abilene Christian at Indiana (6-12) – Non-Conference
For the second time this season, Purdue hosts one of head coach Greg Goff’s close friends that he used to work alongside. Justin Haire is in his second season as the head coach at OSU. Goff hired Haire as an assistant at Campbell in the summer of 2007 and the two men worked together for seven seasons (2008-14), with Haire succeeding Goff as the leader of the Camels when Goff became the head coach at Louisiana Tech in the summer of 2014. Purdue and Campbell squared off against each other on Friday of the second weekend of the 2020 campaign at the Campbell Invitational, Goff’s fifth game as the head coach of the Boilermakers.
Due in part to the final two games of a Purdue-Ohio State series in March 2022 getting canceled because of inclement weather, the Buckeyes have played only two games at Alexander Field this decade. That comes on the heels of OSU being the visiting team for the first-ever series at Alexander Field in March 2013 and playing nine games in West Lafayette from 2013-16.
The Boilermakers are 10-5 at home this season and OSU is 7-3 in true road games.
ACTIVE STREAKS
• Eli Anderson: 12-game hit at home
• Avery Moore: 11-game on-base; 6-game hit; 10-game on-base in Big Ten play; 5-game on-base at home
• Sam Flores: 10-game on-base in Big Ten play
• Aaron Manias: 8-game on-base in Big Ten play
• Quincy Malbrough: 7-game-hit; 7-game on-base at home; 6-game hit at home; 5-game hit in Big Ten play
• Jackson Bessette: 7-game on-base; 5-game hit in Big Ten play
• Westin Boyle: 6-game on-base
• Jake Kramer: 14 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings; 10 consecutive scoreless innings at home
BOILERMAKERS AMONG THE TOP 10 IN THE BIG TEN
• Aaron Manias: 1st in OBP (.513), 5th in HBP (14), 7th in OPS (1.108), 8th in Avg (.371)
• Trevor Kester-Johnson: 2nd in Appearances (22); Also T-2nd Nationally
• Jake Kramer: T-3rd in Appearances (19), T-6th in Saves (5)
• Eli Anderson: T-4th in Steals (13)
• Sam Flores: 6th in Hits (53), T-6th in Doubles (12), 8th in RBI (39), 9th in Total Bases (89)
• Westin Boyle: T-6th in Sac Bunts (4), T-7th in Triples (2)
• Austin Klug: T-6th in Victories (5)
• Dylan Drake: T-7th in Triples (2)
• Zach Erdman: 8th in Fewest Walks per 9 Innings (2.40)
• Brandon Rogers: 8th in SLUG (.643), 10th in Avg (.369), 10th in OPS (1.091)
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WON 4 STRAIGHT SERIES IN BIG TEN PLAY (Since 1981, Minimum 3-Game Series) |
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Year(s) |
Consecutive Series Wins |
Overall B1G Record During Streak |
Opponents |
|
2011-12 |
8 (Last 1 of 2011, First 7 of 2012) |
19-5 |
Iowa, at Ohio State, Penn State, |
|
2012 |
7 (First 7) |
16-5 |
at Ohio State, Penn State, |
|
2026 |
5 |
11-4 |
at Maryland, Penn St., at Michigan St., Illinois, at N’western |
|
2008 |
5 (First 5) |
16-4 |
Northwestern, at Iowa, Penn State, at Ohio State, Minnesota |
|
2011 |
4 |
9-3 |
Michigan, at Penn State, |
|
2001 |
4 |
13-2 |
at Michigan State, at Northwestern, Penn State, at Illinois |
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BEST GAMES FOR THE PITCHING STAFF IN 2026 |
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Date |
Opponent |
Pitchers of Note |
Scoreless Innings |
Final Score |
|
April 14 |
Miami (Ohio) |
Graham Kollen (3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, K) |
8 |
L, 5-3 (11) |
|
April 11 |
at Northwestern |
Zach Erdman (5.1 IP, 6 H, ER, 0 BB, 4 K) |
8 |
W, 3-2 (10) |
|
April 3 |
Illinois |
Cole Van Assen (6+ IP, H, 0 R, 3 BB, 5 K) |
8 |
W, 6-1 |
|
March 7 |
Oregon |
Zach Erdman (5 IP, 5 H, 0 R, BB, 7 K) |
8 |
W, 2-1 |
|
March 21 |
Penn State |
Zach Erdman (7 IP, 5 H, R, 3 BB, 0 K) |
8 |
W, 2-1 |
|
Feb. 14 |
vs Portland |
Zach Erdman (8 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K) |
8 |
W, 2-1 |
|
Feb. 22 |
vs Oregon State |
Jarvis Evans (6.1 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 BB, 3 K) |
8 |
W, 5-2 |
|
March 24 |
Valparaiso |
Austin Klug (4 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 3 BB, 4 K) |
8 |
W, 3-2 |
|
March 10 |
Milwaukee |
Austin Klug (2.2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, BB, K) |
8 |
W, 17-1 |
|
April 5 |
Illinois |
Thomas Howard (3.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 2 K) |
8 |
W, 10-5 |
|
April 10 |
at Northwestern |
Cole Van Assen (5.2 IP, 7 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, K) |
7 |
W, 11-3 |
|
April 12 |
at Northwestern |
Austin Klug (6+ IP, 4 H, ER, BB, 8 K) |
7 |
W, 8-3 |
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Feb. 28 (G2) |
Marist |
Austin Klug (5.2 IP, 2 H, R, BB, 6 K) |
7 |
W, 8-2 |
|
Feb. 20 |
vs Southern Miss |
Cole Van Assen (3.1 IP, 8 H, 4 R, BB, 3 K) |
7 |
L, 5-4 (Walk-off) |
3BOILERMAKERS WITH HIT STREAKS OF 10+ GAMES IN SAME SEASON (Since 2001)
• 2026: Sam Flores (12), Dylan Drake (10), Brandon Rogers (10)
• 2024: Jo Stevens (12, 2x), Camden Gasser (12), Luke Gaffney (10)
• 2023: Connor Caskenette (18), Couper Cornblum (13), Jo Stevens (12)
• 2019: Zac Fascia (15), Skyler Hunter (14), Cole McKenzie (11)
• 2018: Skyler Hunter (13), Nick Dalesandro (11), Ben Nisle (10), Alec Olund (10)
• 2011: Cameron Perkins (20), Eric Charles (15), Kevin Plawecki (11), Stephen Talbott (10), Tyler Spillner (10)
• 2010: Ryan Bridges (13), Barret Arthur (11), Jon Moore (11), Cameron Perkins (10), Eric Charles (10)
• 2009: Brandon Haveman (20), Eric Charles (14), Drew Madia (11)
• 2008: Jon Moore (14), Ryne White (14), Brandon Haveman (13), Ben Wolgamot (13)
• 2007: Ryne White (24), Jordan Comadena (14), John Cummins (10)
• 2005: John Hunter (14), Mitch Hilligoss (13), Andy Dahl (11)
• 2004: Mitch Hilligoss (12), Mike Coles (11), John Hunter (11)
• 2001: David Blomberg (19), Nate Sickler (14), Daniel Underwood (12), David Harrell (12), Nick McIntyre (10)