It is do or die time for our baseball Boilers. Because of last night's 7-3 loss to Kent State, Purdue must win twice today and once tomorrow to advance to a Super Regional against Oregon, Cal State Fullerton, or Austin Peay. A loss in any of those three games means their season is done.
Purdue will be the home team today here in Gary for game 1 against Kentucky, and they are sending midweek starter Robert Ramer (6-0) to the mound. Kentucky boasts three lefty starters, which should be a nice advantage for our right-handed-centric lineup.
If Purdue wins today's first game they will likely face Tyler Skulina for Kent State. yes, the Golden Flashes have only played two games, but assuming ours goes just nine innings we will have still played fewer innings overall this weekend (27 compared to 30) than Kent State.
I'll be at the ballpark for game 1, but I have to head back to Indianapolis for game 2. Both games will be live on Big Ten Network as long as Purdue is playing, as will tomorrow's if necessary game. Let's go get two!
Other Regionals of note:
Eugene Regional - Oregon is the happy 2-0 team and will face the winner between Cal State Fullerton and Austin Peay later tonight. Austin Peay came within two outs of winning the first game against the Ducks, however.
Houston Regional - Host Rice is in trouble, as they lost 1-0 to Arkansas last night and they currently trailed Sam Houston State in the 5th.
Waco Regional - No. 4 National seed Baylor is in the loser's bracket today and and leads Oral Roberts 2-1. Dallas Baptist, a regional winner last year, is the 2-0 team.