As I mentioned earlier this week in the bracketology, there is basically one goal going forward for Purdue baseball: Win.
For a program that has only reached the NCAA Tournament three times in its 100+ year history, getting to May 8 still in consideration for the postseason is spectacular. That is especially true in a year where Purdue was not expected to be a contender.
Two seasons ago Purdue entered the penultimate weekend in the heart of the Big Ten race and on the cusp of an NCAA Tournament bid.
After winning the series opener against Michigan dropped the next two, was then swept by Illinois, then lost the first two games of the Big Ten Tournament to close on a 7-game losing streak and miss the field.
This weekend presents a chance at redemption for the program. As noted earlier in the week, Purdue is likely on the outside looking in at the NCAA Tournament, but it is close. This morning their RPI is 47. At minimum, the Boilers need to win these last two regular season series against Indiana and Iowa, and winning the midweek game against Ball State is likely also a must.
GAMEDAY INFORMATION
Indiana (21-27, 7-17 Big Ten) at Purdue (32-17, 15-9 Big Ten)
May 8-10 / Stream B1G+
Series Opener: Friday, May 8 at 6 p.m. ET
Middle Game: Saturday, May 9 at 2 p.m. ET
Series Finale: Sunday, May 10 at 1 p.m. ET
Alexander Field / West Lafayette, Indiana
PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS
Friday: Cole Van Assen (Jr, RHP) vs. IU’s Tony Neubeck (Grad, LHP)
Saturday: Zach Erdman (Sr, LHP) vs. IU’s Brayton Thomas (So, LHP)
Sunday: Austin Klug (Sr, RHP) vs. TBA for Indiana
SERIES HISTORY
All-Time: Indiana leads 164-139-2
All-Time in West Lafayette: Purdue leads 77-67-1
Purdue Under Greg Goff vs. IU: Indiana leads 13-5 (Since 2020)
2025: Indiana won 2 of 3 (May 9-11 in Bloomington)
Last Series in West Lafayette: Indiana won 2 of 3 (May 2024)
Purdue’s Last Series Win vs. IU: Purdue won 2 of 3 (April 2022)
First Meeting: Purdue 3, Indiana 2 (May 1888 in Bloomington)
The Hoosiers have been one of the standardbearers for the Big Ten in baseball over the last 10-15 years. They have made eight tournament appearances int hat time, have won three Big Ten championships, and their high point was reaching the 2013 College World Series. That was the first time in nearly 30 years a Big Ten team made it to Omaha.
They were expected to contend for a bid again this season after just missing the field last year, but it has been a rough season. They opened the season by getting swept at No. 2 North Carolina, then lost two of three in the Jacksonville Baseball Classic against defending champion LSU, UCF, and Notre Dame.
In Big Ten play they have also struggled. Oregon, Nebraska, and Iowa swept them and Northwestern, Maryland, and Washington also own series wins over them. They enter the weekend outside of the 12 team Big ten Tournament, but they can still make the field with a strong finish.
As for Purdue, the Boilers have already locked in a spot in the Big Ten Tournament, which gives them at least two more games to polish the postseason resume. Those games won’t matter, however, if the Boilers can’t win the series this weekend against the Hoosiers. Purdue’s RPI will fluctuate as other games around the country go on this weekend, but the largest key the team needs now is just wins, regardless of strength of competition. Winning the series against Indiana won’t provide a huge boost, but a series loss would almost certainly doom any at large hopes.
As far as what Purdue needs in terms of its Bubble rivals, here is what to keep an eye on the rest of the weekend:
Charlotte at UAB – UAB is currently a “Last Four In” team, so losing at home to a Charlotte team under .500 overall would help.
Utah at TCU – TCU is also a Bubble team hosting a non-tourney team for the weekend.
Rice at East Carolina – This one is twofold. ECU is a Bubble team. Rice is not on the Bubble, but has an early season home win over Purdue, so improving their profile even a little helps.
Virginia Tech at California – The Hokies are on the Bubble in need o a strong road series win. This is very similar to Purdue’s series next week at Iowa.
Pitt at North Carolina – Among the Bubble teams Pitt has the best opportunity headed into the weekend. If they can win a game or two at one of the top teams in the country they will receive a huge boost.
UMass at Miami (OH) – The Redhawks, much like in basketball, are trying to walk a fine line between a possible at large bid and the automatic bid from the MAC. Both they and Kent State have decent resumes for at large consideration, and their midweek extra winning win at Purdue a few weeks ago gives them an edge on paper.
Vanderbilt at Missouri, Louisiana at Appalachian State, VMI at Mercer, and South Alabama at Troy – D1Baseball lists Vandy, Louisiana, Mercer, and South Alabama as the “Next Four Out” teams, so them losing helps them not gain ground.
