· Collegiate Baseball Third Team All-American
· Third Team All-Big Ten
· NCWBA Stopper of the Year Watch List
· Perfect Game National Pitcher of the Week (May 21)
· Big Ten Pitcher of the Week (April 23)
· Academic All-Big Ten
· Individual Game-by-Game Statistics
· First member of the program to be a full-fledged All-American in multiple seasons
· In a team-high 29 appearances recorded a program-record 15 saves plus two victories
· Led the Big Ten in saves through the end of the regular season and was also tops in the league with 10 saves in conference play
· Mr. Boilermaker award recipient for his positive attitude
· Closed out four victories in one week twice
· Accomplished that feat in mid-April as the 13-game win streak began with a sweep at Maryland and again the final week of the regular season as Purdue finished the season riding a 13-game win streak at Alexander Field
· Became the first reliever to win Big Ten Pitcher of the Week since March 2015 after posting a win and three saves as the Boilermakers won in extra innings at Indiana State and then swept a series at Maryland.
· Closed out all four games the final week of the regular season as the Boilermakers went 4-0 vs. Oral Roberts and Michigan to essentially lock up an at-large bid for the NCAA Tournament
· Only reliever to win Perfect Game's National Pitcher of the Week award in 2018
· Allowed runs in only seven of his 56 career appearances as a Boilermaker
· Posted a consecutive scoreless innings streak of 24 1/3
· Purdue's career saves record in Big Ten play entering the season was 11; he nearly eclipsed it in one year while making the new benchmark in conference play 15
· Finished his career with a 1.78 ERA, good for second in program history
· Also ranked second with 19 career saves
· Career WHIP of 0.975 was a new program record for pitchers with a minimum 75 innings
· 8-2 career record also set a program record for winning percentage with at least 10 decisions
· Ranks among Purdue's all-time top five in fewest hits per nine innings (6.777, 2nd) and strikeout-to-walk ratio (3.888, 5th)
2017 / AS A JUNIOR
· NCWBA Second Team All-American
· Academic All-Big Ten
· Individual Game-by-Game Statistics
· Pitched in a team-high 27 games, all in relief
· Recognized as the team's pitcher of the year
· Put together a streak of 35 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings from March 11 to May 12, making 21 appearances during the streak
· His 0.58 ERA established a new Purdue record (minimum 30 innings), eclipsing a benchmark that had stood since 1965
· His 0.42 ERA in Big Ten play was also a new record (minimum 15 innings)
· His 0.863 WHIP ranked second on the Purdue single-season list
· Made 21 of his 27 relief appearances during his streak of 35 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings; the Boilermakers posted 21 of their 29 victories during that stretch
· For the season, did not surrender a run over 28 2/3 innings of relief while pitching in 15 of the team's victories
· Limited opposing hitters to a .196 batting average and surrendered only seven extra-base hits (all doubles)
· His 35 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings was believed to be a program record and confirmed as the longest streak by a Purdue pitcher since at least 2005
· The streak was snapped via a two-out RBI single in the eighth inning of the May 14 series finale vs. Michigan
· Bounced back nicely the following week, working a combined five innings of two-hit ball while closing out wins vs. Fort Wayne and Minnesota
· Worked at least two innings in 10 of his 27 relief appearances
· Successfully stranded 21 of the 28 (75 percent) inherited base runners he had to deal with
· Recorded all four of his saves in Big Ten play, surrendering just one run on 14 hits in 21 2/3 innings
· Left-handed batters around the Big Ten were just 2-for-25 against him
· Joined Mitch Hilligoss (third team shortstop in 2005) as the only Boilermakers to be named an All-American by the NCBWA; its All-America teams date back to 1996
PREVIOUS COLLEGE
· Pitched his first two collegiate seasons at Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois
· Compiled an 8-1 record, 59 strikeouts and 1.96 ERA as a sophomore
· Named the 2016 Parkland Male Student-Athlete of the Year after also being on the dean's list all four semesters
· Had two wins and a 3.82 ERA as a freshman
· Helped Parkland win conference and region titles in 2016
HIGH SCHOOL
· Four-year letterwinner for coach Gary Hansgen at Catlin High School in east central Illinois
· Also a three-year letterwinner in basketball
· Finished his prep career with a .411 batting average and 1.91 ERA
· Four-year all-conference and all-country honoree
· Class 1A all-state and Champaign News-Gazette all-area performer as a junior
· Also a multiple-year all-county honoree in basketball
· Helped his team reach the state finals (final four) in 2013 and win its regional again in 2014
· National Honor Society
PERSONAL
· Major: Agricultural Business
· Full name is Ross Bentley Learnard
· Born in Danville, Illinois
· Parents are Greg and Cindi Learnard
· Family also includes older brothers Morgan and Joel
· Joel and his cousin JD Learnard both pitched at Illinois State; JD started against Purdue in the 2011 home opener at Lambert Field
Purdue Personal Preferences
Favorite Pro Team: St. Louis Cardinals
Favorite Coach: Barry Eakle
Favorite Marquee Event: World Series
Had the Biggest Impact on His Athletic Career: Greg Learnard, Dad
Favorite Playoff Format: World Series
Favorite Pro Stadium: Busch Stadium
Toughest Hitter for Him to Face Among Teammates: Jacson McGowan
Current MLB Hitter He'd Like to Face: Jose Altuve
In His MP3 Player: Lecrae
Favorite Actor: Matthew McConaughey
Favorite Movie to Watch on Team Bus: Land of the Lost
Show He Can't Stop Watching: Friends
Favorite Month: December
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Favorite Food: Pizza
Another Sport He Enjoys: Basketball
Favorite Purdue Building: Mackey Arena
Favorite Big City: Chicago
Unique Travel Locale: Hawaii
Favorite Thing About Alexander Field: Playing Surface
Favorite Thing About College Baseball: Traveling
Most Memorable Moments at Purdue: The Walk-off Wins
Enjoyed this Professor's Class: James Gothard, Management
Furry Friend: McGwire, Yellow Labrador Retriever