2016 / AS A SENIOR
- Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
- Academic All-Big Ten
- Individual Game-by-Game Stats
- Pitched in 17 games, making nine starts
- Red Mackey Award recipient for excellence by a senior
- Opened and closed the season in the weekend rotation, making five starts in Big Ten play
- Closed his career with memorable 145-pitch complete game shutout in game 1 of the Cal State Northridge series, striking out a career-high seven
- Threw the first complete-game shutout by a Boilermaker since 2012
- Also led Purdue to a series-opening win at Maryland with eight innings of one-run ball
- Put together a quality start (7 IP, 8 H, 3 R, 4 K) against Ohio State in his next outing
- Gave up just two earned runs and did not issue a walk over five innings on the first Sunday of the season as Purdue won at Georgia State
- Worked four innings of shutout relief in the midweek game at Indiana State
- Worked a combined 6 2/3 innings of one-run relief over two appearances vs. Louisville and Nebraska during the first week of home games
- Gave Purdue a chance to win with 4 1/3 innings of two-run ball against Big Ten champion Minnesota
- Also made starts against Cal, East Tennessee State, Michigan State and Northwestern
2015 / AS A JUNIOR
- Big Ten Distinguished Scholar
- Academic All-Big Ten
- Individual Game-by-Game Stats
- Downs pitched in 23 games, making 11 starts
- Led the team with five wins while ranking second in appearances, innings (61 1/3) and strikeouts (34)
- Started the season opener at Western Carolina and Big Ten games against Maryland, Michigan State, Nebraska and Penn State
- Made midweek starts against Louisville, Ball State, IPFW (twice) and Indiana State
- Shined at Nebraska with seven innings of one-run ball, winning the pitcher's duel in the 2-1 Purdue victory
- Was also deserving of a win against nationally ranked Maryland after keeping the Terps off the scoreboard until the seventh inning
- Worked a season-high eight-plus innings of four-run ball against Maryland, three runs coming in the ninth inning
- Gave Purdue a chance to win with five innings of two-run ball at nationally ranked Louisville
- Earned wins against Gonzaga, IPFW (two) and Indiana State as well as Nebraska
- Worked three innings of one-hit ball in back-to-back midweek starts against Indiana State and IPFW, helping lead Purdue to its first win in Terre Haute since 2006
- Did not allow any of the seven inherited base runners he dealt with as a reliever to score
- Made nine of his 23 appearances in Purdue wins to share the team lead
- Surrendered only 18 hits over 21 innings pitched for a .228 batting average against in April
- Worked four innings of two-run ball to earn the win against Gonzaga at the Phoenix Muni Classic in his longest relief outing of the season
- Finished the season as part of the weekend rotation
2014 Season / AS A SOPHOMORE
- Academic All-Big Ten...
- Individual Game-by-Game Stats
- Downs pitched in 15 games, making a start in each of the final 12 weekends of the season
- Was Purdue's top pitcher over the first four weekends, working 22 innings of five-run ball (2.05 ERA) in appearances vs. Tennessee, Rice, Butler and LSU Earned wins with strong outings vs. Butler (5 2/3 IP, 0 R), Michigan (7 IP, 3 H, 0 ER) and Iowa (7 IP, 2 ER, 0 BB)
- Also gave Purdue starts vs. LSU (6 1/3, 2 R, 5 K), Southern Illinois (6 1/3 IP, 3 R) and Ohio State (9 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 0 BB)
- Needed only 93 pitches for his first collegiate complete game vs. Ohio State but came out on the short end of a 2-0 pitcher's duel after surrendering both runs in the fourth inning
- Matched his career high with five strikeouts in impressive outing at LSU in which Purdue led entering the seventh inning
- Worked at least five innings of quality relief in his first three outings of the season before moving to the starting rotation
- Worked three innings of one-hit ball in a midweek start against College World Series qualifier Louisville
- Induced a team-high eight ground ball double plays, including two with the bases loaded to help lead Purdue to its win against Butler in Birmingham
- Surrendered just one home run and was charged with only one wild pitch in 74 innings
- Left game two of the Michigan State series with Purdue leading 4-2 after surrendering just one earned run over four innings
- Compiled a 3.18 ERA and .223 batting average against in 28 1/3 innings at Alexander Field
- Posted a 3.20 ERA and .207 batting average against over 25 1/3 innings in April
2013 / AS A FRESHMAN
- Academic All-Big Ten
- Downs pitched in five games, making three starts
- Started midweek games against Illinois-Chicago, Ball State and Eastern Michigan
- Mr. Boilermaker Award recipient for postitive attitude
- Worked 4 1/3 innings of scoreless two-hit relief in his team debut, giving Purdue a chance to win in the midweek home game against Indiana State
- Pitched five scoreless innings to earn his first win as the start in the home win against UIC
- Follow that up with a quality start (6 1/3 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 4 K) in a no decision at Ball State
- Struck out a season-high five versus UIC
2012 / AS A REDSHIRT
- Did not see action during his first season with the Boilermakers... redshirted.
High School
- Downs was a two-time varsity letter-winner at back-to-back IHSAA 4A state champion Carroll High School in Fort Wayne
- Also a three-year letter-winner in soccer
- Went 12-1 with two saves to tie the CHS single-season wins record as a senior
- Was the winning pitcher in the 2011 IHSAA state title game
- First team all-conference and Fort Wayne News Sentinel All-Area honoree as a senior
- Also compiled a 2.52 ERA with 70 strikeouts vs. 18 walks in 80 2/3 innings pitched
- Went 4-1 with a 2.90 ERA as a junior, helping CHS win the 2010 IHSAA 4A title
- Four-year honor roll student ranked eighth among his graduating class of 441 in GPA
- National Honor Society
Personal
- Major: Environmental and Natural Resources Engineering with a career ambition of working to improve sustainable water systems for the American infrastructure
- Full name is Gavin Stewart Downs
- Born Oct. 21, 1992 in Fort Wayne
- Son of Phil and Joleen Downs
- Family also includes older sister Rebecca, who runs cross country and track at IUPUI
- Father played soccer at IPFW
Purdue Personal Preferences
Favorite Pro Team: Tottenham Hotspur FC
Favorite Athlete: Harry Kane
Favorite Pro Stadium: Wrigley Field
Favorite Field He's Played On (Other Than Purdue): LSU's Alex Box Stadium
Most Unique Baseball Feat He's Witnessed: Jake Romano superman catch, Lakeshore Chinooks (June 2015)
Favorite Playoff Format: World Cup
Current MLB Hitter He'd Most Like to Face: Miguel Cabrera
Toughest Hitter for Him to Face Among Teammates: Kyle Johnson
Last Concert He Attended: Woodstock
Favorite Sci-Fi Series: Battlestar Galactica
Dream Car: Dodge Stratus
Favorite Month: October
Favorite Holiday: Boxing/St. Stephen's Day
Favorite Food: Milksteak
Favorite Big City: Chicago
Unique Travel Locale: Seoul, South Korea
Country He'd Most Like to Visit: Madagascar
Another Sport He Enjoys Playing: Soccer
Furry Friend: Gordic, Golden Retriever Poodle Mix
Favorite Thing About Alexander Field: The Grass