Boilermakers Ride B1G Streaks Out to LA for Big Series at #21 USC

GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Purdue (28-12, 15-6 Big Ten) at #21 USC (31-11, 13-8 Big Ten)
April 24-26 / Stream B1G+
Series Opener: Friday, April 24 at 10 p.m. ET
Middle Game: Saturday, April 25 at 5 p.m. ET
Series Finale: Sunday, April 26 at 3:30 p.m. ET (Updated Start Time)
Dedeaux Field / Los Angeles, California
All-Time Series: First Meetings

PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday: Cole Van Assen (Jr, RHP) vs. USC’s Mason Edwards (Jr, LHP)
Saturday: Zach Erdman (Sr, LHP) vs. USC’s Grant Govel (So, RHP)
Sunday: Austin Klug (Sr, RHP) vs. TBA for USC

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue Baseball rides its streaks of six consecutive series victories and seven straight wins in Big Ten play out to the West Coast as the Boilermakers visit the state of California for the first time since March 2017 for a weekend series at No. 21 USC.

First pitch at the recently renovated Dedeaux Field is set for 10 p.m. ET on Friday, 5 p.m. ET on Saturday and 4 p.m. ET on Sunday.

The series sets up as a great opportunity for both teams to improve their postseason résumés and could go a long way in determining if either can finish in top four of the Big Ten standings to earn a bye into the single-elimination quarterfinals of the conference tournament. The Boilermakers are riding their fourth longest Big Ten win streak in team history while winning six straight conference series for just the second time. USC was the nation’s final undefeated team (at 19-0) before suffering its first loss – in the snow – March 14 at Northwestern. The Trojans are 22-1 at home but have been swept in road series at UCLA and Nebraska this month.

Purdue will look to become the first visiting Big Ten team to win a game and series in Southern California this season. No. 1 UCLA has swept Michigan, Maryland, Minnesota as well as USC at home during its 21-0 start to Big Ten play. USC has swept Illinois, Washington and Iowa at home. The Trojans’ lone home loss was in a midweek game against common opponent Oregon State.

Since that March 24 loss to the Beavers, USC is 7-10. The Boilermakers are 13-5 since March 24.

The Trojans are second in the Big Ten in ERA (3.91), batting average against (.215) and strikeouts per nine innings (10.3). Mason Edwards (1.49 ERA, .142 B/Avg, 107 Ks in 60 1/3 IP) and Grant Govel (3.05 ERA, .204 B/Avg, 60 K vs 8 BB in 59 IP) are arguably the most formidable combination of Friday and Saturday starters in the country. They’ve combined for seven of USC’s eight shutout victories. Nebraska swept last weekend’s series in Lincoln by rallying to win on Friday and racking up 36 runs in the series. The Huskers scored six times against the Trojan bullpen Friday in an 8-7 victory in 10 innings. They carried the momentum over and outscored USC 28-8 over the final two games, knocking around Govel for seven runs over three innings.

While runs could be at premium for the Boilermakers this weekend in Los Angeles, they have succeeded while both playing with the lead and rallying to overcome deficits. In Big Ten play, Purdue enters the weekend having not trailed after a full inning for 37 consecutive frames dating back to the 10th inning of the April 11 victory at Northwestern. The Boilers also have six wins (in all games) when tied or trailing after six innings, including four victories when tied or trailing after eight innings.

Purdue has three California natives on the roster this season, with Trevor Kester-Johnson (Morgan Hill), Dylan Drake (Sacramento) and Quincy Malbrough (Loomis) all hailing from the northern half of the state.

Closer Jake Kramer is on the NCBWA Stopper of the Year midseason watch list, which was unveiled Wednesday. Kramer was among 18 relievers nationally to remain on the list after being on the preseason edition back in February. Kramer has closed out 12 of Purdue’s 15 Big Ten victories (1 win, 5 saves) while compiling a 1.15 ERA and .200 batting average against in 15 2/3 innings in conference play.

The Boilermakers have joined UCLA as the only teams to win three Big Ten series on the road so far this season. They’re also the only two teams to win at least six consecutive series in conference play this year. Oregon (5-4) is the only other team that has winning record on the road in Big Ten play entering the weekend. The Ducks are the only team to hand Purdue a series loss this season.

PURDUE’S LONGEST WIN STREAKS IN BIG TEN PLAY
• 2024 (March 31-May 3): 11
• 2001 (March 24-April 14): 10
• 2018 (April 20-May 6): 9
• 2026 (April 5-Present): 7
• 2012 (April 6-20): 7
• 2005 (April 17-May 8): 7
• 1989 (April 23-May 7): 7

PURDUE’S WEST COAST TRIPS
• April 2025 (0-3): Got Swept in a 3-game series at Washington
• Spring Break 2017 (5-3): Lost 3 of 4 at Cal State Northridge, Swept a 4-game series at Santa Clara
• February 2016 (0-3): Got Swept in a 3-game series at #10 Cal
• March 2014 (0-4): Got Swept in a 4-game series at San Diego State
• May 2012 (1-2): Lost 2 of 3 at #11 UCLA
• March 2002 (0-4): Lost all 4 at Lancaster, Calif. Tournament
• Spring Break 2001 (0-6): Lost all 6 in SoCal (San Diego, UCLA, LBSU, UC Riverside (2), Cal State Northridge)
• Spring Break 1998 (3-6): Got Swept in a 3-game series at San Jose State, Went 3-3 at Fresno State Tournament
• Spring Break 1986 (4-7): Got Swept in a 3-game series at #10 Hawaii, Won 2 of 3 vs Hawaii-Hilo & Hawaii Pacific, Lost neutral-site vs. Lewis & Iona

WEEKEND #8 OF BIG TEN PLAY
• Purdue (15-6) at USC (13-8)
• Nebraska (15-3) at Illinois (8-10)
• Washington (8-10) at Michigan (10-8)
• Penn State (5-13) at Oregon (12-6)
• Ohio State (9-9) at Rutgers (7-11)
• Iowa (7-11) at Indiana (6-12)
• Maryland (5-13) at Michigan State (8-13)
• Northwestern (5-13) at Minnesota (5-13)
• Sacramento State at UCLA (21-0) – Non-Conference

ACTIVE STREAKS
• Avery Moore: 15-game on-base; 10-game hit; 13-game on-base in Big Ten play; 7-game hit in Big Ten play
• Quincy Malbrough: 11-game-hit; 8-game hit in Big Ten play
• Sam Flores: 13-game on-base in Big Ten play
• Westin Boyle: 10-game on-base; 7-game hit in Big Ten play
• Eli Anderson: 6-game hit
• CJ Richmond: 6-game on-base
• Zach Zychowski: 6-game on-base in Big Ten play
• Jake Kramer: 16 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings
• Gavin Beuter: 9 1/3 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run

BOILERMAKERS AMONG THE TOP 10 IN THE BIG TEN
• Aaron Manias: 1st in OBP (.510), 4th in HBP (16)
• Eli Anderson: 1st in Steals (17)
• Trevor Kester-Johnson: 2nd in Appearances (25); Also T-2nd Nationally
• Austin Klug: T-4th in Victories (6)
• Jake Kramer: T-5th in Appearances (21), T-6th in Saves (6)
• Sam Flores: 6th in Hits (59), T-7th in Doubles (13), 9th in RBI (43), 10th in Total Bases (99), 10th in Avg (.371)
• Zach Erdman: 6th in Fewest Walks per 9 Innings (2.28)
• Westin Boyle: T-7th in Double (13)
• Cole Van Assen: T-8th in Victories (5), 8th in Fewest Walks per 9 Innings (2.38)