Penn State Baseball Hosts Purdue in Crucial Weekend Series
As the Penn State Nittany Lions wrap up their April homestand, they face a pivotal matchup against the Purdue Boilermakers—a series both teams desperately need to turn their seasons around.
Purdue: Hot Start Fizzles
The Boilermakers came out strong in 2025, posting an impressive 18-2 record through their first 20 games and briefly earning a spot in NCAA Tournament projections. However, their momentum faded fast. After a series loss to Michigan and back-to-back sweeps by No. 10 UCLA and Washington, Purdue showed signs of recovery with a series win over Rutgers.
Purdue’s Bullpen Strength
Redshirt senior Avery Cook has anchored Purdue’s bullpen, making a team-high 19 appearances. The right-handed closer ranks third in the Big Ten with seven saves and holds a solid 3.28 ERA, bringing experience and consistency late in games.
Penn State: Searching for Consistency
Penn State has struggled to maintain rhythm, sitting at 10-8 in Big Ten play but having already lost three conference series. After recent setbacks—including dropping two of three to USC at home—the Nittany Lions are 7-8 at Medlar Field. Offensively, they’ve struggled to find their groove, batting .224 as a team. Left fielder Jesse Jaconski leads the lineup with a .298 average.
With tournament hopes on the line, both teams will be looking to make a statement this weekend in Happy Valley.
