Wild, crazy, unpredictable weekend as Purdue baseball earns first three-game sweep against Indiana since 2011
Avery Moore went 4-for-4 with two home runs, two doubles, and four RBI to lead the Boilermakers to the program's first sweep against IU in 15 years. Purdue is tied for fourth in the Big Ten standings
A near walk-off win on Friday. A true walk-off winner on Saturday.
And Sunday’s series finale against Indiana was unfolding as a routine, run-of-the-mill matchup until it flipped to the script of the weekend. By now, you know that’s when the Boilermakers are at their best.
One more time, Purdue needed to respond and turned to its man for the big moments to ensure the program’s first sweep against Indiana since 2011.
After building an early five-run advantage, the Boilermakers fell behind, but quickly jumped back in front and posted an 11-8 victory on Sunday at Alexander Field, winning their 20th home game this season.
“I feel like this weekend kind of shows how much of a family we are, and everyone’s in it for each other, and we’re never going to give up,” senior Avery Moore said.
The win moves coach Greg Goff’s team into a fourth-place tie with Oregon in the Big Ten standings. However, the Ducks own the tiebreaker, pushing Purdue to the No. 5 seed in the conference tournament as things currently stand with one weekend of games remaining.
In a wild, crazy, and unpredictable 46 hours from the first pitch on Friday to Sunday’s final out, Purdue managed to demoralize the Hoosiers with back-breaking late-inning comebacks to stay alive for a Big Ten tournament bye and remain in the NCAA conversation.
Here’s how the Boilermakers accomplished it, capped by Senior Day and Mother’s Day wrapped into a perfect afternoon under a sun-drenched sky.
“HE WAS SO CLUTCH THIS WEEKEND”
For those who have followed these last three games, Brandon Rogers doesn’t need an introduction. The clutch gene? He has it. He proved it in each game.
The senior outfielder had four hits in the series, but three came in the sixth inning or later - each time with two outs - and produced seven RBI.
His two-run pinch single on Friday tied the game, his three-run double in the ninth on Saturday capped a remarkable five-run rally, and Sunday’s two-run triple in the sixth allowed the Boilermakers to regain the lead after IU briefly went ahead.
All this from Rogers, who returned to the lineup after missing 35 days with a broken left hand suffered on April 3.
“With these games being against Indiana, I think those mean the most,” Rogers said. “I’m just happy for the program. This is great for the program. This is just a blast for us to sweep this weekend. We played our butts off every single day.”
SATURDAY RECAP: Another dramatic comeback as Purdue scores five runs in the ninth
The Boilermakers didn’t buckle when trailing by eight runs on Friday and down 4-0 heading into their last-bat on Saturday. And there was no panic after the Hoosiers rallied to go ahead 7-6 on Sunday.
Rogers’ teammates are ecstatic to have him back in the lineup.
“Oh my gosh, he was so clutch this weekend,” said closer Jake Kramer, who delivered a two-inning save on Sunday. “To have him back in the lineup is just amazing going into this last weekend, and then the playoffs.”
Said Moore: “It’s so nice having him back in the lineup. We missed him, but we had guys fill his place and get the job done. The way he’s producing right now is awesome.”
Rogers was ready to rejoin the lineup on Friday, but Goff waited one more day. That plan worked since the Chicago native was used as a pinch hitter, but continued to shine in the biggest moments throughout the weekend.
BOX SCORE: Purdue 11, Indiana 8
“Friday was great. Saturday was unbelievable. And then he comes up again (Sunday) and does the same doggone thing,” Goff said. “I’m like, ‘Man, it’s pretty amazing.’
“He really hurt himself, his body and his mind. He had to recover. I just kept telling him, ‘You let me know when you’re ready.’ He didn’t start Friday, and then we got him in there, and the rest is history. So I think he’s gonna stay in there for a while.”
The depth of the lineup was on display.
Six players had multiple hits, including three by catcher Jackson Bessette, leading to nine extra-base hits. The Boilermakers posted a .331 average in the series and had plenty of traffic on the bases.
4-4-4
A new area code? No, but it could be Moore’s favorite numbers moving forward.
Let’s break it down: 4-for-4, four extra-base hits (two doubles, two home runs) and four RBI. The senior reached base five times after getting hit by a pitch in his final plate appearance.
A two-run homer in the first inning. A solo shot in the fourth. Surrounding those blasts were a pair of doubles - a run-scoring hit in the fifth and another one to lead off the seventh, which triggered a three-run inning.
FRIDAY RECAP: “You can never count us out”
“(Assistant Barrett) Serrato gave us a good game plan before the week,” Moore said. “It’s nice. My whole family’s here, so it was awesome to be able to do that in front of them.”
Sunday happened because Moore didn’t leave after a subpar 2025 season. Goff recalls a conversation with the Omaha, Neb. native, who came to Purdue from Southeast Community College (Beatrice, Neb.) when he returned in the fall.
“He didn’t play a lot last year, and was disappointed in that,” Goff said. “In this world today, most guys transfer. For him to say, 'Coach, no. I’m not done here. I want to come back here, play every day, and do that.’ When that’s the kind of guys we have here … he could have easily left, and the game rewarded him for sure.”
“IT’S JUST A BLESSING”
Before Sunday, the bullpen was one reason why the Boilermakers stayed in the first two games, setting the stage for those comebacks.
The relievers, though, weren’t as strong on Sunday as two of the first three pitchers who followed starter Austin Klug - Joe Trenerry and Jarvis Evans - allowed six runs and six hits during two innings as the Hoosiers made a push.
But Kramer has been nearly unhittable in save situations. That was the case on Friday as he finished off the win. And again on Sunday by recording the final six outs to earn his ninth save.
From California University in Western Pennsylvania, a Division II program, to the closer’s role for a Big Ten program, Howard’s journey is inspiring.
“It’s just a blessing for them to recruit me here, and as soon as I stepped foot on this field, I knew this is where I wanted to be,” Howard said. “Ever since the beginning, coach Golf has put me in the position that I want to be in. He’s trusting me all the way, and I can’t be more thankful and blessed to have him on my side.”
Before Sunday, the bullpen had thrown 5 1/3 innings in the first two games, allowing a combined five hits and two runs.
Howard began earning respect in the fall for his work ethic, demeanor, and, eventually, his performance in key situations this spring.
“Our guys, they respect him,” Goff said. “They respect how hard he’s worked. And they know when he comes in, it’s over. All the good teams I’ve ever had, you’ve got to have somebody at the end of the game who can handle the pressure.
“They can stay poised. They make the pitches. For a guy being a Division II player, like I was, to come in and do what he’s done at this level is just extraordinary.”
WHAT’S NEXT
The pursuit of a bye in the Big Ten tournament is the main objective when the Boilermakers travel to Des Moines to take on Iowa at Principal Park, home of the Iowa Cubs.
Purdue will need to win at least two games against the Hawkeyes and try to move ahead of USC or Oregon, which play a three-game series to close out the regular season.
The Boilermakers also remain in the hunt for an NCAA tournament berth, but have a small margin for error based on the metrics. A good showing against Iowa and a run in the Big Ten tournament would put Purdue in a favorable position.
BIG TEN STANDINGS
Top 12
Upcoming conference games (Thursday, Friday, Saturday)
1-UCLA (26-1) at Washington
2-Nebraska (20-7) at Minnesota
3-USC (19-8) at Oregon
4-Oregon (18-9) vs. USC
Purdue (18-9) vs. Iowa (Des Moines)
6-Michigan (17-10) vs. Ohio State
7-Ohio State (15-12) at Michigan
8-Illinois (13-14) at Indiana
9-Iowa (12-15) vs. Purdue (Des Moines)
10-Minnesota (11-16) vs. Nebraska
Washington (11-16) vs. UCLA
Rutgers (11-16) at Northwestern