HOME OPENER SCHEDULE
Thursday, March 14
vs. Omaha | 2 p.m. ET | B1G+
Friday, March 15
vs. Omaha | 2 p.m. ET | B1G+
Saturday, March 16
vs. Omaha | Noon ET | B1G+
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Head coach Magali Frezzotti and the Purdue softball team (11-11) are primed for their home opener on Thursday afternoon vs. Omaha (18-7). Purdue will host the Mavericks for a three-game series running Thursday through Saturday, serving as the first games of the year at Bittinger Stadium.
Admission is free for all Purdue home games. Fans can also watch on B1G+.
The three-game series during Purdue's spring break prepares the team for similar formatting, with Big Ten play starting next week. During conference action, Purdue will play a single Big Ten opponent for three games over three days, with the exception of Indiana, which Purdue will play a midweek doubleheader on Big Ten Network.
THE NUMBERS VS. #12 FLORIDA STATE
• Purdue's nine runs against FSU was the most in program history vs. a top-20 team.
• The Boilermakers' six-run first inning was the most scored by Purdue in a single inning this season.
AMONG THE BIG TEN LEADERS: SAGE SCARMARDO
• Sage Scarmardo ranks #1 in the nation in hit by pitch per game (.62).
• The third baseman is the Big Ten leader and #9 in the nation in on-base % (.577).
• Meanwhile, Scarmardo's .426 batting average ranks fifth-best in the Big Ten.
FRESHMAN MAKING HER MARK: MORIAH POLAR
• One of the fastest players in the Big Ten, freshman Moriah Polar is the conference leader in stolen bases (12 total, .55 per game).
• Polar has batted at the top of the lineup in all but one game.
• She also ranks 10th in the Big Ten in hits (24) and 9th in doubles (6).
• Registered two home runs in the 13-6 victory vs. SIU (2/25), tying the Purdue program record for home runs in a single game. She was the first Purdue freshman since 2015 to record two homers in a single game.
ALL ABOUT SPEED
• Purdue enters the week with 57 stolen bases, the most by the program in an entire season since 2016's 80.
• The team's 57 stolen bases are second-most in the Big Ten this season.
• The Boilermakers rank 7th in the nation in stolen bases per game (2.59) and total bases.
• The Boilermakers posted four stolen bases in each of the first two games of the season, a feat that has been accomplished just one other time by Purdue in the last six years.
• Overall, Purdue is more aggressive team on the bases compared to their opponents, with 57 stolen bases compared to 21.
PURDUE'S WEEK 5 LOOK-BACK: AT THE FGCU SPRING BREAK CLASSIC
• Purdue went 2-3 at the FGCU Spring Break Classic, picking up wins vs. Pitt (9-2) and Western Michigan (4-1).
• The Boilermakers held a 6-1 lead vs. #12 Florida State, which included a six-run opening frame.
• Freshman Ashlynn Campbell led the team with a .500 batting avg., four runs, five hits.
• Four Boilermakers averaged a .400 or better batting average: Campbell (.500), designated player Kate Claypool (.455), third baseman Sage Scarmardo (.429), first baseman Alivia Meeks (.400).
SCOUTING THE OMAHA MAVERICKS
• SERIES HISTORY: 0-1 | Last Meeting: L, 5-8 in Tucson, Arizona | 2/13/2016
• The team is riding a seven-game win streak and have shutout their opponent in the last four straight games.
• The Mavericks' offense is led by Lynsey Tucker (23 runs, .346 batting avg., .590 slugging %) and Sydney Ross (21 runs, .403 batting avg., 26 RBI, .494 on-base %).
• Two pitchers have shared the majority of the team's pitching: Kamryn Meyer and Sydney Nuismer. Meyer
owns the most wins in the circle with a 9-3 record and two shutouts. The grad student holds opponents to a .217 batting average and enters the weekend with a 2.89 ERA. Meanwhile, Nuismer follows with a 6-3 record, a 3.47 ERA, a .263 opponent batting avg and two shutouts.
Thursday, March 14
vs. Omaha | 2 p.m. ET | B1G+
Friday, March 15
vs. Omaha | 2 p.m. ET | B1G+
Saturday, March 16
vs. Omaha | Noon ET | B1G+
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Head coach Magali Frezzotti and the Purdue softball team (11-11) are primed for their home opener on Thursday afternoon vs. Omaha (18-7). Purdue will host the Mavericks for a three-game series running Thursday through Saturday, serving as the first games of the year at Bittinger Stadium.
Admission is free for all Purdue home games. Fans can also watch on B1G+.
The three-game series during Purdue's spring break prepares the team for similar formatting, with Big Ten play starting next week. During conference action, Purdue will play a single Big Ten opponent for three games over three days, with the exception of Indiana, which Purdue will play a midweek doubleheader on Big Ten Network.
THE NUMBERS VS. #12 FLORIDA STATE
• Purdue's nine runs against FSU was the most in program history vs. a top-20 team.
• The Boilermakers' six-run first inning was the most scored by Purdue in a single inning this season.
AMONG THE BIG TEN LEADERS: SAGE SCARMARDO
• Sage Scarmardo ranks #1 in the nation in hit by pitch per game (.62).
• The third baseman is the Big Ten leader and #9 in the nation in on-base % (.577).
• Meanwhile, Scarmardo's .426 batting average ranks fifth-best in the Big Ten.
FRESHMAN MAKING HER MARK: MORIAH POLAR
• One of the fastest players in the Big Ten, freshman Moriah Polar is the conference leader in stolen bases (12 total, .55 per game).
• Polar has batted at the top of the lineup in all but one game.
• She also ranks 10th in the Big Ten in hits (24) and 9th in doubles (6).
• Registered two home runs in the 13-6 victory vs. SIU (2/25), tying the Purdue program record for home runs in a single game. She was the first Purdue freshman since 2015 to record two homers in a single game.
ALL ABOUT SPEED
• Purdue enters the week with 57 stolen bases, the most by the program in an entire season since 2016's 80.
• The team's 57 stolen bases are second-most in the Big Ten this season.
• The Boilermakers rank 7th in the nation in stolen bases per game (2.59) and total bases.
• The Boilermakers posted four stolen bases in each of the first two games of the season, a feat that has been accomplished just one other time by Purdue in the last six years.
• Overall, Purdue is more aggressive team on the bases compared to their opponents, with 57 stolen bases compared to 21.
PURDUE'S WEEK 5 LOOK-BACK: AT THE FGCU SPRING BREAK CLASSIC
• Purdue went 2-3 at the FGCU Spring Break Classic, picking up wins vs. Pitt (9-2) and Western Michigan (4-1).
• The Boilermakers held a 6-1 lead vs. #12 Florida State, which included a six-run opening frame.
• Freshman Ashlynn Campbell led the team with a .500 batting avg., four runs, five hits.
• Four Boilermakers averaged a .400 or better batting average: Campbell (.500), designated player Kate Claypool (.455), third baseman Sage Scarmardo (.429), first baseman Alivia Meeks (.400).
SCOUTING THE OMAHA MAVERICKS
• SERIES HISTORY: 0-1 | Last Meeting: L, 5-8 in Tucson, Arizona | 2/13/2016
• The team is riding a seven-game win streak and have shutout their opponent in the last four straight games.
• The Mavericks' offense is led by Lynsey Tucker (23 runs, .346 batting avg., .590 slugging %) and Sydney Ross (21 runs, .403 batting avg., 26 RBI, .494 on-base %).
• Two pitchers have shared the majority of the team's pitching: Kamryn Meyer and Sydney Nuismer. Meyer
owns the most wins in the circle with a 9-3 record and two shutouts. The grad student holds opponents to a .217 batting average and enters the weekend with a 2.89 ERA. Meanwhile, Nuismer follows with a 6-3 record, a 3.47 ERA, a .263 opponent batting avg and two shutouts.