2023 / AS A JUNIOR
• Pitched in 16 games, making four starts
• Opened the season in the weekend rotation and also made midweek starts vs. Indiana State and Ball State in April
• Suffered an in-game injury April 23 at Maryland that sidelined him for the rest of the season
• Impressed at Alexander FIeld, registering a 2.70 ERA and .192 batting average against with 22 strikeouts vs. 14 hits allowed in 20 innings
• Struck out a season-high seven over five shutout innings of one-hit ball in a victory vs. a Ball State team that went to an NCAA Regional
• Shined vs. UIC for the second year in a row, striking out six over 5 1/3 innings of one-run relief
• Had given Purdue five outs of hitless relief against Maryland when he had to leave the game due to injury
• Worked three innings of relief as the first man out of the bullpen in the rubber game win vs. Northwestern, which went 10 innings
• Surrendered just one earned run over 3 1/3 innings of relief Friday at Ole Miss after the Rebels had blitzed Purdue's starter for eight runs in the first two frames
• Was Purdue's top performer on the mound in midweek action, posting a 2.12 ERA and .153 batting average against with 19 strikeouts in 17 innings
• Bounced back from a slow start with a 3.46 ERA in 13 innings in March and 2.12 ERA in 17 innings in April
2022 / AS A SOPHOMORE
• Pitched in 17 games and made eight starts, finishing the season in the weekend rotation
• Started the opening game of five of the eight Big Ten series, including the final four
• Started the Big Ten Tournament game vs. Iowa
• Registered 56 strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings to help Purdue set team records for strikeouts and Ks per nine innings
• Impressed in his series-opening spot start vs. Michigan after an injury to Jackson Smeltz, striking out a season-high eight over five innings of three-hit ball
• Struck out five of nine batters faced March 29 vs. UIC to help the Boilermakers set a team record with 19 Ks
• First Boilermaker since March 2017 to start consecutive games on the mound (game 3 vs. Indiana, game 1 vs. Penn State)
• Struck out seven over 3 2/3 innings vs. Bellarmine in his Alexander Field debut
• Earned a start in the four-game series vs. Princeton during the season weekend, performing well with five innings of one-run ball
• Posted a 2.08 ERA and 22 strikeouts vs. four walks over 17 1/3 innings in his first six appearances
BEFORE PURDUE
• Pitched his freshman season at Danville Area Community College
• Mid-West Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year and NJCAA second-team All-American in 2021
• Also first team all-conference and first team all-region 24
• Compiled a 7-0 record and 3.19 ERA in his 11 starts
• Racked up 84 strikeouts vs. 14 walks while surrendering only 61 hits in 59 1/3 innings, averaging 12.7 Ks per 9 innings
• Impressed with 10-strikeout games at Lincoln Trail and vs. Lewis & Clark
• Struck out at least seven batters in nine of his 11 appearances
HIGH SCHOOL
• Lettered for coach Curt Welch at Castle High School near Evansville
• Pitched on varsity as a sophomore and junior before his senior season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Helped CHS win a pair of sectional titles plus a regional crown in 2018
PERSONAL
• Major: Organizational Leadership
• Full name is Charles Lewis Backer Jr.
• Born in Waterloo, Iowa
• Parents are Chuck and Shannon Backer
• Family also includes older sisters Marissa and Nikki
PURDUE PERSONAL PREFERENCES
Favorite Pro Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Traditionally Roots Against (Pro Rival): Los Angeles Dodgers
Favorite Athlete: Michael Jordan
Had the Biggest Impact on His Athletic Career: Chuck Backer, Father
Favorite Marquee Event: March Madness
Favorite Pro Stadium: Busch Stadium
Funniest Teammate: Kyle Iwinski
Current Teammate with the Best Baseball Instincts: Evan Albrecht
In His Favorite Playlist: Lil Baby
Would Love to See Him Play Purdue: Moneybag Yo
Favorite Multi-Media App: Netflix and Spotify
Show He Can’t Stop Watching: Ozark
Favorite Video Game: Fortnite
Favorite Month: October
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Pick One – Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner: Breakfast
Favorite Food: Alfredo
Favorite Dessert: Cake
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Baseball or Fishing
Another Sport He Enjoys Playing: Basketball
Favorite Purdue Building: Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC)
Favorite Big City: New York City or Chicago
Unique Travel Locale: Mount Rushmore
Country He’d Like to Visit: Japan
Pick One for a Vacation – Beach, Mountains or Road Trip: Beach
Favorite Costume at the Alexander Halloween Bash: Avery Cook as Patrick Star
Favorite Thing About Alexander Field: The Whole Atmosphere
Furry Friend: Nash, Pit Beagle mix
• Pitched in 16 games, making four starts
• Opened the season in the weekend rotation and also made midweek starts vs. Indiana State and Ball State in April
• Suffered an in-game injury April 23 at Maryland that sidelined him for the rest of the season
• Impressed at Alexander FIeld, registering a 2.70 ERA and .192 batting average against with 22 strikeouts vs. 14 hits allowed in 20 innings
• Struck out a season-high seven over five shutout innings of one-hit ball in a victory vs. a Ball State team that went to an NCAA Regional
• Shined vs. UIC for the second year in a row, striking out six over 5 1/3 innings of one-run relief
• Had given Purdue five outs of hitless relief against Maryland when he had to leave the game due to injury
• Worked three innings of relief as the first man out of the bullpen in the rubber game win vs. Northwestern, which went 10 innings
• Surrendered just one earned run over 3 1/3 innings of relief Friday at Ole Miss after the Rebels had blitzed Purdue's starter for eight runs in the first two frames
• Was Purdue's top performer on the mound in midweek action, posting a 2.12 ERA and .153 batting average against with 19 strikeouts in 17 innings
• Bounced back from a slow start with a 3.46 ERA in 13 innings in March and 2.12 ERA in 17 innings in April
2022 / AS A SOPHOMORE
• Pitched in 17 games and made eight starts, finishing the season in the weekend rotation
• Started the opening game of five of the eight Big Ten series, including the final four
• Started the Big Ten Tournament game vs. Iowa
• Registered 56 strikeouts in 54 2/3 innings to help Purdue set team records for strikeouts and Ks per nine innings
• Impressed in his series-opening spot start vs. Michigan after an injury to Jackson Smeltz, striking out a season-high eight over five innings of three-hit ball
• Struck out five of nine batters faced March 29 vs. UIC to help the Boilermakers set a team record with 19 Ks
• First Boilermaker since March 2017 to start consecutive games on the mound (game 3 vs. Indiana, game 1 vs. Penn State)
• Struck out seven over 3 2/3 innings vs. Bellarmine in his Alexander Field debut
• Earned a start in the four-game series vs. Princeton during the season weekend, performing well with five innings of one-run ball
• Posted a 2.08 ERA and 22 strikeouts vs. four walks over 17 1/3 innings in his first six appearances
BEFORE PURDUE
• Pitched his freshman season at Danville Area Community College
• Mid-West Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year and NJCAA second-team All-American in 2021
• Also first team all-conference and first team all-region 24
• Compiled a 7-0 record and 3.19 ERA in his 11 starts
• Racked up 84 strikeouts vs. 14 walks while surrendering only 61 hits in 59 1/3 innings, averaging 12.7 Ks per 9 innings
• Impressed with 10-strikeout games at Lincoln Trail and vs. Lewis & Clark
• Struck out at least seven batters in nine of his 11 appearances
HIGH SCHOOL
• Lettered for coach Curt Welch at Castle High School near Evansville
• Pitched on varsity as a sophomore and junior before his senior season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
• Helped CHS win a pair of sectional titles plus a regional crown in 2018
PERSONAL
• Major: Organizational Leadership
• Full name is Charles Lewis Backer Jr.
• Born in Waterloo, Iowa
• Parents are Chuck and Shannon Backer
• Family also includes older sisters Marissa and Nikki
PURDUE PERSONAL PREFERENCES
Favorite Pro Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Traditionally Roots Against (Pro Rival): Los Angeles Dodgers
Favorite Athlete: Michael Jordan
Had the Biggest Impact on His Athletic Career: Chuck Backer, Father
Favorite Marquee Event: March Madness
Favorite Pro Stadium: Busch Stadium
Funniest Teammate: Kyle Iwinski
Current Teammate with the Best Baseball Instincts: Evan Albrecht
In His Favorite Playlist: Lil Baby
Would Love to See Him Play Purdue: Moneybag Yo
Favorite Multi-Media App: Netflix and Spotify
Show He Can’t Stop Watching: Ozark
Favorite Video Game: Fortnite
Favorite Month: October
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Pick One – Breakfast, Lunch or Dinner: Breakfast
Favorite Food: Alfredo
Favorite Dessert: Cake
Favorite Outdoor Activity: Baseball or Fishing
Another Sport He Enjoys Playing: Basketball
Favorite Purdue Building: Wilmeth Active Learning Center (WALC)
Favorite Big City: New York City or Chicago
Unique Travel Locale: Mount Rushmore
Country He’d Like to Visit: Japan
Pick One for a Vacation – Beach, Mountains or Road Trip: Beach
Favorite Costume at the Alexander Halloween Bash: Avery Cook as Patrick Star
Favorite Thing About Alexander Field: The Whole Atmosphere
Furry Friend: Nash, Pit Beagle mix