Purdue Baseball Hosts Penn State & Minnesota in Hybrid Series

Looking for one last chance to enjoy Purdue sports during the 2020-21 school year? Head to West Lafayette this weekend. Purdue has played only 10 games at Alexander Field this season, but it will close out the year with four games (plus a pair of Penn State vs. Minnesota games) at home this weekend.

GAMEDAY INFORMATION: 3-TEAM POD

Purdue (14-25) hosts Penn State (17-23) and Minnesota (5-29)

Thursday, May 27 to Sunday, May 30 / BTN & BTN+

Purdue vs. Penn State: Thursday at 4 p.m. & Friday at 2 p.m.

Purdue vs. Minnesota: Saturday at 6 p.m. & Sunday at 4 p.m.

Penn State vs. Minnesota: Friday at 6 p.m. & Saturday at 2 p.m.

LIVE VIDEO COVERAGE

Thursday: BTN & Fox Sports App

Friday: BTN+ & BTN+ App

Saturday: BTN+ & BTN+ App

Sunday: BTN & Fox Sports App

PURDUE’S PROBABLE PITCHING MATCHUPS

Thursday: Calvin Schapira (Jr, LHP) vs. PSU’s Bailey Dees (Jr, RHP)

Friday: Trent Johnson (Sr, RHP) vs. PSU’s Conor Larkin (Jr, RHP)

Saturday: Cory Brooks (R-Jr, RHP) vs. TBA for Minnesota

Sunday: TBA for Both Teams

The only thing on the line this weekend for all three teams is pride. Purdue has already seen Penn State, splitting a pair of games with them in a three-team pod at Michigan State. It also saw Minnesota just last week, taking three of four from the Gophers in Minneapolis. It really is an excellent chance to finish the year strong and attempt to enter 2022 with momentum.

There are also number of seniors who will be playing their final games as Purdue players (maybe, as the COVID situation with eligibility is really odd for baseball). Nick Alvarado, Skyler Hunter, Zac Fascia, Tyler Powers, Mason Gavre, Miles Simington, Kyle LaPlante, Ben Nisle, and Trent Johnson are all seniors that will take part in graduation ceremonies.

One of the more interesting cases is Skylar Hunter. He is technically in his fifth year, coming back for a fifth fulls seasons after three full seasons prior and all 14 games in 2020. He is sitting on 260 career hits, currently fourth all-time in program history. He would need an outstanding 20 hit weekend for the record, but he has a very good chance of passing Daniel Underwood at 266 for third place. He does, officially, have the school record for most at bats in school history with 839, achieved last weekend. If he can somehow get two triples he can tie the school record in that category.

It should be a fun weekend if you want to just go watch baseball. Absolutely nothing is on the line. Minnesota will finish dead last in the Big Ten. Purdue is slated to finished 12th unless it wins all four games, then it could pass Penn State, Michigan State, and Northwestern. With Hunter, Powers, Fascia, Simington, and Nisle being a large part of the lineup and Johnson as a long time starter we could see a very different team next year.