It's simple for Purdue baseball this weekend: win.
That's the mission as the Boilermakers host rival Indiana for their final home series of the season at Alexander Field. And if you're a fan of college baseball drama, this one has it all—postseason stakes, a bitter in-state rivalry, and a chance at redemption.
Let's set the stage. Purdue (32-17, 15-9 Big Ten) enters the weekend with an RPI of 47, which puts them on the bubble for the NCAA Tournament. For a program that's only made the big dance three times in over a century, being in this conversation on May 8 is a massive achievement—especially in a year when no one expected the Boilers to contend.
But here's the catch: Purdue has been here before, and it didn't end well. Two seasons ago, the Boilermakers entered the penultimate weekend of the regular season in the thick of the Big Ten race and on the cusp of an NCAA bid. They won the series opener against Michigan, then dropped the next two. A sweep at Illinois followed, and they lost their first two games of the Big Ten Tournament. Seven straight losses. The season ended in heartbreak.
This weekend is a shot at redemption. The math is clear: at minimum, Purdue needs to win these last two regular-season series—against Indiana and Iowa—and likely needs to take down Ball State in the midweek game. Every win matters now.
Gameday Info
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
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: 2022 (won 2 of 3)
First meeting: Purdue 3, Indiana 2 (May 1888 in Bloomington)
The Hoosiers have been one of the Big Ten's standard-bearers in baseball over the years, and they've had Purdue's number recently. But this weekend, the Boilermakers have everything to play for—and a chance to write a different ending to their story.