Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern Faces Stiff Test in No. 19 Purdue
4/5/2012 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
April 5, 2012
Northwestern (10-15, 3-3 Big Ten) vs. #19 Purdue (21-5, 4-2 Big Ten)
Friday, April 6, 2012
Rocky Miller Park
Evanston, Ill. • 3 p.m.
Gametracker
Saturday, April 7, 2012
Rocky Miller Park
Evanston, Ill. • 1 p.m.
Gametracker
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Rocky Miller Park
Evanston, Ill. • 1 p.m.
Gametracker
Streaming Video: Wildcats All-Access (Friday only)
Audio: sports.wnur.org (Friday only)
In-game Twitter updates: @NU_SportsLIVE
Northwestern Game Notes (PDF)
EVANSTON, Ill. -- Northwestern hosts Purdue for the second straight season as the teams open a three-game series at Rocky Miller Park at 3 p.m. Friday. First pitch is set for 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Northwestern men's basketball standout John Shurna will throw out the first pitch prior to Friday's contest. Saturday is EBSA Day as the Evanston Youth Baseball and Softball Leagues jumpstart their seasons with a kickoff event held in conjunction with the game. Sunday's game will feature a pregame egg hunt beginning at 12:30 p.m. For a complete list of promotions, visit the Promotions page.
Ranked No. 19 in this week's Baseball America poll, Purdue is the first ranked opponent NU has faced since it split a four-game series at No. 17 Michigan May 15-17, 2008.
Northwestern posted its first Big Ten series win of the season last weekend, taking two of three contests from conference newcomer Nebraska. After dropping Friday's opener, the Wildcats got stellar starting pitching performances from Brandon Magallones and Zach Morton to earn the series victory. Jack Havey hit .455 (5-11) in the three-game set with a home run and five RBI.
Scouting Purdue
The Boilermakers (21-5, 4-2 Big Ten) defeated Anderson 6-1 Wednesday in Indianapolis and won two of three games at home vs. Penn State last weekend. Eric Charles leads Purdue with a .386 batting average while Kevin Plawecki is batting .371 with a conference-best 14 doubles. Two-time Big Ten Pitcher of the Week Lance Breedlove sports a 4-2 record and a 2.74 ERA.
Series History: Purdue leads 106-84-2. The Boilermakers won two of three games in Evanston a year ago.
So Far, So Good
Freshman right-handed pitcher Brandon Magallones has gotten his collegiate career off to a good start. At 5-0 heading into play this weekend, Magallones is the first Northwestern hurler to start a season with at least five straight wins since John Seaman started the 1998 campaign with six consecutive victories. Magallones has struck out at least nine batters in each of his last three starts, fanning nine against Long Island March 18, nine at Iowa March 24 and 10 against Nebraska March 31. His 42 strikeouts this season rank second in the Big Ten to only Purdue's Lance Breedlove whom he his slated to oppose on Saturday. Magallones' 19 strikeouts in Big Ten play lead the league.
Up Next...
Northwestern hosts St. Xavier in nonconference action Tuesday before traveling to Minnesota for a three-game Big Ten series.
Probable Pitching Matchups
Friday
RHP Francis Brooke (1-2, 2.59 ERA, 41.2 IP) vs. RHP Joe Haase (4-0, 4.42 ERA, 38.2 IP)
Saturday
RHP Brandon Magallones (5-0, 3.79 ERA, 38 IP) vs. RHP Lance Breedlove (4-2, 2.74 ERA, 46 IP)
Sunday
RHP Zach Morton (1-5, 2.93 ERA, 46 IP) vs. RHP Connor Podkul (0-0, 1.80 ERA, 15 IP)
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