Purdue looks to extend winning streak

By Seth Schwartz
Senior Writer

The Purdue baseball team will attempt to collect its 11th consecutive win when it visits Butler today.

The Boilermakers (15-14, 8-2 Big Ten) are coming off of a four-game series sweep at Northwestern and will try to close their nine-game road trip with another win against Butler (15-13).

Purdue coach Doug Schreiber said the sweep of the Wildcats last weekend only helped to increase the ever-growing confidence of the Boilers.

"Obviously, when you have some success it’s going to build on your confidence," said Schreiber. "Just like if you struggle, it’ll probably pick away a little bit from your confidence. Our foundation is still going to be built from our preseason work and our practices that we have and nonconference games and our whole mental approach."

After finishing last year at 35-23 overall and 17-11 in the Big Ten, Purdue was considered a contender for the Big Ten title this year. However, the team didn’t start out well going 5-14 over the first 19 games.

"We’ve faced tough pitching all year," said Schreiber. "When we went out to California, we faced most of the teams’ No. 1 or 2 pitcher on the staff. I think that is starting to pay off a little bit. Guys have been working pretty hard."

The hitting has picked up significantly. Seven of the nine offensive starters are hitting above .300 for the season. Outfielder Nate Sickler is on a 12-game hitting streak and batting .402 for the season, the only player over .400 on the team.

"Obviously, this is the way that you’d like for things to go," said Schreiber. "We’re hitting the ball. We’re getting extra base hits, which I think is a key to our offense. I feel like we can bunt and do some things like that to manufacture (runs), but when we’re hitting and getting extra base hits, things really start to click.

"Offensively, with seven or eight guys hitting the ball pretty well at a current time, hopefully it’s going to continue."

The pitching has gotten better as well. Each starting pitcher now has at least three wins, with Sean O’Neil pacing the group with four.

"The starting pitching has picked up and our relievers are starting to settle into some of their roles, knowing what is expected out of them," Schreiber said. "(Last) weekend, it kind of all came together for us."

According to Schreiber, Butler is a scrappy team. Both he and assistant coach Todd Murphy were assistants under Butler’s head coach, Steve Farley.

The Boilers beat Butler 9-5 last year. They lead the series with the Bulldogs 95-32-3.

"I think everyone knows a little bit about each other," said Schreiber. "Last year, they had us down. I think we scored late in the game to come back and beat them. They’re very capable of doing the same thing."

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