Grad Ceremony, Senior Day Part of Purdue's Final WeekendGrad Ceremony, Senior Day Part of Purdue's Final Weekend

Grad Ceremony, Senior Day Part of Purdue's Final Weekend

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GAMEDAY INFORMATION: 3-TEAM POD
Purdue (14-25) hosts Penn State (17-23) and Minnesota (5-29)

Thursday, May 27 to Sunday, May 30 / BTN & BTN+
Purdue vs. Penn State: Thursday at 4 p.m. & Friday at 2 p.m.
Purdue vs. Minnesota: Saturday at 6 p.m. & Sunday at 4 p.m.
Penn State vs. Minnesota: Friday at 6 p.m. & Saturday at 2 p.m.

LIVE VIDEO COVERAGE
Thursday: BTN & Fox Sports App
Friday: BTN+ & BTN+ App
Saturday: BTN+ & BTN+ App
Sunday: BTN & Fox Sports App

PURDUE'S PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Thursday: Calvin Schapira (Jr, LHP) vs. PSU's Bailey Dees (Jr, RHP)
Friday: Trent Johnson (Sr, RHP) vs. PSU's Conor Larkin (Jr, RHP)
Saturday: Cory Brooks (R-Jr, RHP) vs. MINN's Jack Liffrig (R-So, LHP)
Sunday: TBA for Purdue vs. MINN's Tom Skoro (R-Sr, LHP)

SERIES HISTORY
Purdue vs. Penn State
All-Time: Purdue leads 51-33
All-Time in West Lafayette: Purdue leads 27-14
Current Series Streak in West Lafayette: Purdue has won 5 straight (Since 2014)
First Meetings of 2021: Split 2 games in East Lansing (April 10-11)
Last Series in West Lafayette: Purdue swept a 2-game set (March 2019)
First Meeting: Purdue 4, Penn State 2 (March 1983 in Lakeland, Florida)
Purdue vs. Minnesota
All-Time: Minnesota leads 117-57-2
All-Time in West Lafayette: Minnesota leads 43-28-2
Current Series Streak in West Lafayette: Minnesota has won 7 straight (Since 2010)
Last Weekend in Minneapolis: Purdue won 3 of 4
Last Series in West Lafayette: Minnesota swept a 2-game set (April 2018)
Purdue's Last Series Win in West Lafayette: Purdue swept 4-game set (April 2008)
First Meeting: Minnesota 14, Purdue 9 (April 1901 in West Lafayette)

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue baseball closes out its campaign with its first-ever four-game weekend at Alexander Field, hosting Penn State and Minnesota for the Big Ten's final three-team pod of the unique 2021 season.

Thursday's weekend opener vs. Penn State has been moved up to a 4 p.m. ET first pitch. Sunday's weekend finale vs, Minnesota is also set for 4 p.m. Both games will be televised live on Big Ten Network. As of Wednesday afternoon, tickets remain available for all four days of the pod. Penn State will play a doubleheader Friday and Minnesota takes the field twice Saturday. Action begins at 2 p.m. both days.

The Boilermakers have two special events planned. University provost Jay Akridge will be on hand Thursday at 3:30 p.m. to award diplomas to the program's seven spring graduates – Zac Fascia, Skyler Hunter, Kyle LaPlante, Trent Johnson and Tyler Powers as well as team managers Drew DelaCuesta and Paul Holaway. The team was in Maryland during commencement Saturday on campus two weeks ago.

Sunday's annual Senior Day ceremony is slated for 3:40 p.m., with 12 seniors recognized for their contributions to Purdue baseball. Along with four members of the support staff, eight players will be honored as they close out their Purdue careers this weekend – Cory Brooks, Mason Gavre, Ben Nisle, Miles Simington, Fascia, Hunter, LaPlante and Johnson. Powers plans to return next season to utilize his final season of eligibility.

Hunter is an unprecedented five-year starter in center field. He has been a constant in the lineup since Opening Day of the 2017 campaign. He has started 216 of the Boilermakers' 222 games over the last five seasons. The switch-hitter enters the weekend with 260 career hits, most among active players in the Big Ten, and will make a run at third place (266) on the program's all-time list this weekend.

Brooks, Johnson and Nisle all came aboard in the fall of 2017. They teamed with Hunter to help lead Purdue to 38 wins and an NCAA Regional appearance during the memorable 2018 campaign. Johnson and Nisle both represented the Boilermakers on the Big Ten All-Freshman Team and Hunter was on the Big Ten All-Tournament Team that year as Purdue qualified for the championship game for the fourth time in program history.

Johnson is one of just two pitchers this century to pitch on Opening Day four years in a row and is the program's all-time leader in strikeouts per nine innings (9.46, minimum 125 innings). Nisle is a four-year starter in left field and has been a constant in the heart of the lineup dating back to Purdue's 21-2 run during the second half of his freshman campaign.

Johnson and Brooks are slated to start in their final outings, taking the ball Friday and Saturday, respectively.

Fascia is the Boilermakers' first full-time catcher to be a three-year starter since current big leaguer Kevin Plawecki (2010-12). Fellow transfers Gavre, LaPlante and Simington all joined the program in the fall of 2019. They were Opening Day starters in each of their two seasons. LaPlante earned his degree from Purdue in just two years. Simington has enjoyed a dynamic senior season in right field, leading the team in hits, RBI and batting average. During the home-opening weekend, Gavre hit the program's first walk-off home run since 2006.

Going into last weekend's action, the Boilermakers remained the only team to sweep one of the Big Ten's three-team pods this year, accomplishing the feat the weekend of April 17 to 19 in Champaign (vs. Michigan State and Illinois). Nebraska has joined the list, winning all four of its games vs. Indiana and Ohio State in Bloomington and clinching the league title Sunday in the process. Coincidentally, the Huskers have now won the Big Ten title twice since joining the league during the 2011-12 school year. Purdue has been playing in Minneapolis both times Nebraska clinched. Back in 2017, it was the Boilermakers' series win at Minnesota that same weekend that allowed the Huskers to take the title.

Minnesota and Penn State actually played a three-game series against each other at Alexander Field in April 2018. The Gophers swept the three-game set, which was moved from Minneapolis due to snow. Minnesota is 8-0 all-time at Alexander, sweeping series against Purdue in 2016 and 2018 en route to winning the Big Ten regular-season title.

Purdue's last four-game home weekend doubled as the program's last series win against Minnesota in West Lafayette. The Boilermakers swept the four-game set at Lambert Field in April 2008, the final season in which Big Ten weekends were four-game series. Purdue hosted Michigan State the following month but rained shortened the series to a three-game set.

BOILERMAKERS ALL OVER THE BASES IN MINNEAPOLIS
 • Purdue posted a remarkable .474 team on-base percentage in the Minnesota series, racking up 39 free passes (30 walks, 9 HBP) to go along with 51 hits. It was a big reason why the Boilermakers scored 46 runs, their most in a four-game series since a March 2008 sweep of Western Illinois (47) at Lambert Field.
• Six Purdue players with a minimum 10 plate appearances had an OBP of .500+ – Tyler Powers (.909), Ryan Howe (.714), Ben Nisle (.600), Mike Bolton Jr. (.526), Miles Simington (.524) and Evan Albrecht (.500). Powers and Howe joined Cam Thompson (vs Iowa) as Boilermakers with a .700+ OBP in a series this season. They also accomplished the feat for the second time in their careers, joining Bryce Bonner as the only Boilermakers to do it twice since 2016.
 
BOILERMAKERS WITH .700 OBP IN A SERIES/WEEKEND
Minimum 8 Plate Appearances, Since 2016
Season Boilermaker OBP (PA) Weekend Stats Opponent/Tourney
2021 Tyler Powers .909 (11) 5-for-6, 2B, 4 BB, 4 R, Sac Bunt at Minnesota
2021 Ryan Howe .714 (11) 6-for-9, 2B, 2 RIB, 4 BB, 3 R, Sac Fly at Minnesota
2021 Cam Thompson .778 (9) 5-for-7, 3 2B, 4 RBI, 2 HBP, 3 R Iowa
2020 Bryce Bonner .750 (8) 3-for-5, 2B, 4 RBI, 3 HBP, R vs. Hofstra
2019 Ryan Howe .714 (8) 5-for-7, Sac Bunt Penn State
2018 Ben Nisle .714 (14) 7-for-11, 2 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB, 3 R at NCAA Regional
2018 Tyler Powers .700 (11) 4-for-7, 3 RBI, 3 BB, 4 R, Sac Bunt at Penn State
2018 Nick Dalesandro .714 (14) 8-for-11, 2 2B, 4 RIB, 2 BB, 3 R, Sac Fly at Stetson Tourney
2018 Jacson McGowan .714 (14) 5-for-9, 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, 4 BB, HBP, 6 R at Stetson Tourney
2017 Bryce Bonner .778 (9) 4-for-5, 3B, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 2 R, Sac Fly at Texas State
2016 Harry Shipley .818 (11) 3-for-5, RBI, 3 BB, 3 HBP, 4 R at Indiana
 
PURDUE'S MOST NINTH INNING RUNS (SINCE 2001)
Season Runs in 9th Games Batted in 9th Record Home/Away/Neutral
2021 41 35 14-25 2-8 / 8-9 / 4-8
2012 39 42 45-14 13-3 / 20-8 / 12-3
2009 35 42 25-26 9-8 / 12-12 / 4-6
2011 31 43 37-20 14-4 / 19-13 / 4-3
2018 30 39 38-21 15-5 / 11-12 / 12-4
2017 30 50 29-27 10-10 / 18-15 / 1-2
 
PERFECT STOLEN BASE SEASONS (SINCE 2001)
Minimum 5 Attempts
Season Boilermaker Total Career Steals
2021 Mike Bolton Jr. 17-17 18-19
2011 Stephen Talbott 17-17 55-63
2014 Jeff Evak 11-11 15-15
2004 Andy Dahl 8-8 20-23
2003 Ben Fritz 7-7 14-17
2016 Harry Shipley 7-7 51-68
2021 Ben Nisle 6-6 19-23
2013 Sean McHugh 5-5 8-13
2010 Stephen Talbott 5-5 55-63
 
1.000+ OPS SEASONS (SINCE 2001)
Minimum 60 At-Bats
Season Boilermaker OBP SLUG OPS At-Bats
2009 Dan Black .518 .667 1.185 174
2007 Ryne White .521 .663 1.184 199
2008 Dan Black .444 .675 1.119 194
2010 Payton Bieker .468 .631 1.099 65
2001 Nate Sickler .440 .651 1.091 195
2009 Brandon Haveman .462 .616 1.078 185
2003 Daniel Underwood .420 .658 1.078 199
2007 Jordan Comadena .455 .620 1.075 100
2021 Ben Nisle .432 .607 1.039 145
2006 Mitch Hilligoss .453 .579 1.032 228
2012 Kevin Plawecki .445 .578 1.023 223
2008 Ryne White .439 .576 1.015 210
2008 Jonathan Lilly .480 .529 1.009 87
2010 Drew Madia .454 .552 1.006 143
2009 John Cummins .465 .536 1.001 110
 
BEST XBHs PER GAME MARKS (SINCE 2001)
Minimum 10 XBH
Season Boilermaker GP 2B 3B HR XBH XBH/G
2007 Jordan Comadena 28 13 0 5 18 .643
2001 Nate Sickler 55 21 5 8 34 .618
2009 Brandon Haveman 43 20 2 4 26 .605
2009 Dan Black 51 13 2 15 30 .588
2008 Dan Black 58 15 0 18 33 .569
2021 Ben Nisle 39 11 3 8 22 .564
2003 Daniel Underwood 54 30 16 2 12 .556
2012 Kevin Plawecki 59 20 4 7 31 .525
2011 Cameron Perkins 56 15 4 8 27 .482
2010 Cameron Perkins 57 17 2 8 27 .474
2007 Ryne White 53 16 1 8 25 .472
2006 Mitch Hilligoss 58 16 5 6 27 .466
2008 Ryne White 58 15 0 12 27 .466
2017 Jacson McGowan 56 15 3 8 26 .464
2021 Miles Simington 39 14 0 4 18 .462
 
PURDUE GRAND SLAMS (SINCE 2001)
Date Boilermaker Opponent Location Inning Game Result
5/21/2021 Miles Simington Minnesota Minneapolis, Minn. T-3rd W, 12-5
5/20/2021 Jake Parr* Minnesota Minneapolis, Minn. T-5th W, 9-3
4/19/2021 Jeremy Schork* Illinois Champaign, Ill. T-9th W, 20-6
3/26/2021 Cam Thompson* Rutgers Alexander Field B-9th L, 7-5
2/15/2020 Miles Simington* Hofstra Sanford, Fla. B-8th W, 10-4
4/09/2017 Nick Dalesandro Indiana Alexander Field B-9th L, 14-9
3/23/2016 Kyle Wood Louisville Alexander Field B-6th L, 9-4
3/22/2016 Kyle Johnson Ball State Muncie, Ind. T-2nd L, 9-8
3/05/2016 Kyle Johnson East Tennessee St. Johnson City, Tenn. T-7th W, 19-6
3/20/2015 Jack Picchiotti Rutgers Alexander Field B-7th W, 9-5
3/15/2015 Ted Snidanko* Northern Illinois Westfield, Ind. B-6th W, 23-5
3/15/2013 Sean McHugh Michigan Ann Arbor, Mich. T-6th W, 12-9
4/27/2012 Barrett Serrato Michigan State Lambert Field B-4th W, 6-2
2/19/2012 Cameron Perkins Notre Dame St. Petersburg, Fla. T-6th W, 15-8
4/16/2010 Drew Madia Penn State Lambert Field B-2nd W, 18-7
4/06/2010 Dominick D'Agata* Valparaiso Lambert Field B-7th W, 14-5
5/14/2009 Drew Madia Illinois Lambert Field B-8th W, 12-5
4/01/2009 Drew Madia Purdue Fort Wayne Fort Wayne, Ind. T-3rd L, 22-19
4/19/2008 Dan Black Ohio State Columbus, Ohio T-3rd W, 8-0
4/11/2008 Eric Nielsen Penn State Lambert Field B-8th W, 13-8
4/06/2008 Dan Black Iowa Iowa City, Iowa T-2nd W, 16-3
3/23/2008 Kyle Reesing Western Illinois Lambert Field B-6th W, 22-10
5/19/2007 Dan Black Northwestern Evanston, Ill. T-5th L, 9-6
4/28/2007 Ryne White Ohio State Lambert Field B-5th W, 16-0
4/16/2006 Neal Gorka Indiana Bloomington, Ind. T-2nd W, 25-8
4/14/2006 Neal Gorka Indiana Bloomington, Ind. T-6th L, 8-4
2/25/2005 Andy Dahl Florida Atlantic Boca Raton, Fla. T-6th L, 6-4
5/26/2004 Andy Dahl Michigan State Minneapolis, Minn. T-8th W, 6-5
5/02/2004 John Hunter Minnesota Minneapolis, Minn. T-1st W, 15-6
3/28/2004 Ben Fritz Western Michigan Lambert Field B-6th W, 12-1
4/02/2003 Daniel Underwood Ball State Muncie, Ind. T-5th L, 17-14
5/15/2002 Daniel Underwood Evansville Lambert Field T-2nd W, 6-2
4/27/2002 David Harrell Ohio State Columbus, Ohio T-4th W, 10-7
5/08/2001 Brad Kriner at Chicago State Chicago, Ill. T-3rd W, 10-7
4/21/2001 Daniel Underwood at Illinois Champaign, Ill. T-3rd W, 16-2
3/24/2001 Nate Sickler Minnesota Lambert Field B-2nd L, 11-10
*First Home Run as a Boilermaker