Thursday, May 11
Fort Wayne, Ind.
4 PM
Purdue Fort Wayne
vs
Oakland
Baseball Series With Oakland Moved Up One Day
5/9/2023 10:45:00 AM | Baseball
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Oakland comes to Mastodon Field this week for three games to close out the home portion of the 2023 Purdue Fort Wayne season. Saturday will be Senior Day for the 'Dons. The series will now start on Thursday due to the weather forecast.
Game Day Information
Who: Purdue Fort Wayne (10-38, 6-18 Horizon) vs. Oakland Golden Grizzlies (22-27, 13-11 Horizon)
When:
Thursday, May 11 | 4 p.m.
Friday, May 12 | 3 p.m.
Saturday, May 13 | 2 p.m.
Where: Mastodon Field
Weather: 81, sunny | 69, rain | 75, cloudy
Live Stats: Link
Series History: Oakland leads 24-18
Probable Pitchers:
Purdue Fort Wayne: RHP Mac Ayres (2-3), RHP Brody Fine (1-5), TBD
Oakland: RHP Hunter Pidek (1-2), LHP Travis Densmore (5-5), RHP Sean Fekete (3-2)
Scouting the Golden Grizzlies: Oakland picked up a 4-3 non-league win over Toledo on Tuesday. Oakland took two-of-three from Milwaukee last weekend. Reagan Paulina had a home run in the contest. Ian Cleary is hitting a team-best .325.
Miller is the Strikeout King: Justin Miller owns 223 career strikeouts, passing Jason Horvath (2001-2005) for most career strikeouts earlier this season. Horvath recorded 210. Miller broke the record against Dayton on April 26. Additionally, Miller is averaging 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings, the best for a career in program history during the Division I era.
Down Goes Sparty: The Mastodons defeated Michigan State on April 19 3-2. It is the Mastodons' second straight season with a win over a Big 10 opponent. Last season the 'Dons defeated eventual league champion Michigan.
Return of the SAC: Dylan Stewart is tied for second in the league in sacrifice bunts with seven.
Put His Name in Ink: Jarrett Bickel has started all 48 games at shortstop.
Grant is Fly: In league play only, Grant Thoroman is tied for the lead league in sacrifice flies with four.
Back in Black: Braedon Blackford is third in the league with 13 home runs. He is in third in RBIs (49), third in slugging (.599), fifth in runs (43) and seventh in hits (55).
It Might Be…: Braedon Blackford's 13 home runs has him in fourth place in program history for home runs in a season. The all-time single season record is Shaun VanDriessche's 18 in 2010.
Cade Gets on Base: Cade Nelis has a current 29 game on-base streak. It is the longest for a Mastodon since Jackson Boyce reached base in 37 consecutive games in 2017. Nelis owns 32 walks, second best in the league.
HL is BH Time: In league play only, Ben Higgins is second in the league slugging (.831), OPS (1.249) and RBIs (30).
Masto-Slams: The 'Dons hit grand slams in back-to-back games against Northern Kentucky. On March 24 Ben Higgins hit a grand slam and then in game one on March 26 Jarrett Bickel hit a game-tying grand slam in the seventh inning of a 9-5 win.
Save X4: Four different Mastodons have recorded a save this season. Brody Fine, Mac Ayres, JD Deany, and Justin Miller own saves for the 'Dons.
Closing Time: Justin Miller owns eight career saves, fourth most in Mastodon history for career saves.
'Dons Dig The Long Ball: 11 different Mastodons have hit a home run this season, it is the most since 2013 when 11 different 'Dons hit a home run. The 2003 season saw 13 Mastodons hit a home run, the most during the Mastodon Division I era.
Multi-verse: 15 different Mastodons have had a multi-hit game this season.
Hey Batter Batter (of the Week): Braedon Blackford hit .429 and slugged 1.357 with four home runs in 14 at bats over four games played in Winston-Salem, N.C. (March 3-5). He also recorded one double, seven RBIs, five runs scored, two walks and 19 total bases to earn the Horizon League Batter of the Week honor.
Hey Batter Batter (of the Week) X2: Ben Higgins was named the Horizon League Batter of the Week on April 4 for his play the prior weekend. His play was highlighted by his thee home run performance at Youngstown State on March 31). Higgins was the first Mastodon to hit three big flys in a game since 2016.
D1Baseball Top 30: Braedon Blackford was named a Top 30 Hitter of the day for his two-run home run game vs. Cornell. He was ranked No. 11. He also earned the No. 12 spot on the list after his five-hit, six-RBI doubleheader against Milwaukee (April 15). JD Deany was selected as a Top 30 pitcher for his five shutout innings vs. Cornell. Ben Higgins was named the No. 3 hitter of the day by DIBaseball.com for his three dinger day against Youngstown State. Jacob Walker (21st) and Caileb Johnson (25th) earned spots on the daily top 30 list for their performances at Northern Kentucky. Walker drove in seven runs with a home run. Johnson had four hits, four RBIs and two home runs.
Up Next: The 'Dons travel to Toledo in non-league play on May 16th.
RECORD WATCH: Multiple Mastodons are lurking around the top 10 in program history in several stats this season.
Individual Records:
RBIs
Single Season Record: 54 Jared Davis (2007)
10th place: 44 (multiple times)
Braedon Blackford: 49 (currently 3rd)
Ben Higgins: 42
Runs
Single Season Record: 53 Brandon Soat (2015) and Terry Johnson (1997)
10th place: 44 (multiple times)
Braedon Blackford: 43
Total Bases
Single Season Record: 150 Greg Kaiser (2016)
10th place: 107 (twice)
Braedon Blackford: 109 (currently tied for 8th)
Home Runs
Single Season Record: 18 Shaun VanDriessche (2010)
Braedon Blackford: 13 (currently 4th)
Caileb Johnson: 11 (currently tied for 8th)
Ben Higgins: 10 (currently tied for 9th)
Walks
Single Season Record: 54 Malcolm White (2012)
Cade Nelis: 32 (currently tied for 9th)
Team Records:
Doubles
Single Season Record: 99 (2016)
Currently: 95 (2nd)
Home Runs
Single Season Record: 55 (2010)
Currently: 50 (2nd)
Hit By Pitch
Single Season Record: 79 (1999 & 2002)
Currently: 63 (8th)
Hits
Single Season Record: 539 (2014)
10th place: 444 (2009)
Currently: 430
Slugging %
Single Season Record: .494 (1998 & 1997)
Division I era Record: .435 (2005)
10th place: .420 (1989 & 2015)
Currently: .417
Runs Batted In
Single Season Record: 325 (2015)
10th place: 250 (1995)
Currently: 256
Runs
Single Season Record: 355 (1997)
Division I era Record: 353 (2015)
10th place: 277 (1999)
Currently: 275
Walks
Single Season Record: 230 (2016)
10th place: 194 (2005)
Currently: 190
OBP
Single Season Record: .415 (1997)
Division I era Record: .409 (2005)
10th place: .377 (1989)
Currently: .359
Double Plays
Single Season Record: 70 (1998)
Division I era Record: 48 (2010)
10th place: 40 (multiple times)
Currently: 33
Runners Picked Off
Single Season Record: 25 (2009)
10th place: 11 (multiple times)
Currently: 10
Strikeouts
Single Season Record: 398 (2015)
Currently: 345 (4th)
Game Day Information
Who: Purdue Fort Wayne (10-38, 6-18 Horizon) vs. Oakland Golden Grizzlies (22-27, 13-11 Horizon)
When:
Thursday, May 11 | 4 p.m.
Friday, May 12 | 3 p.m.
Saturday, May 13 | 2 p.m.
Where: Mastodon Field
Weather: 81, sunny | 69, rain | 75, cloudy
Live Stats: Link
Series History: Oakland leads 24-18
Probable Pitchers:
Purdue Fort Wayne: RHP Mac Ayres (2-3), RHP Brody Fine (1-5), TBD
Oakland: RHP Hunter Pidek (1-2), LHP Travis Densmore (5-5), RHP Sean Fekete (3-2)
Scouting the Golden Grizzlies: Oakland picked up a 4-3 non-league win over Toledo on Tuesday. Oakland took two-of-three from Milwaukee last weekend. Reagan Paulina had a home run in the contest. Ian Cleary is hitting a team-best .325.
Miller is the Strikeout King: Justin Miller owns 223 career strikeouts, passing Jason Horvath (2001-2005) for most career strikeouts earlier this season. Horvath recorded 210. Miller broke the record against Dayton on April 26. Additionally, Miller is averaging 10.5 strikeouts per nine innings, the best for a career in program history during the Division I era.
Down Goes Sparty: The Mastodons defeated Michigan State on April 19 3-2. It is the Mastodons' second straight season with a win over a Big 10 opponent. Last season the 'Dons defeated eventual league champion Michigan.
Return of the SAC: Dylan Stewart is tied for second in the league in sacrifice bunts with seven.
Put His Name in Ink: Jarrett Bickel has started all 48 games at shortstop.
Grant is Fly: In league play only, Grant Thoroman is tied for the lead league in sacrifice flies with four.
Back in Black: Braedon Blackford is third in the league with 13 home runs. He is in third in RBIs (49), third in slugging (.599), fifth in runs (43) and seventh in hits (55).
It Might Be…: Braedon Blackford's 13 home runs has him in fourth place in program history for home runs in a season. The all-time single season record is Shaun VanDriessche's 18 in 2010.
Cade Gets on Base: Cade Nelis has a current 29 game on-base streak. It is the longest for a Mastodon since Jackson Boyce reached base in 37 consecutive games in 2017. Nelis owns 32 walks, second best in the league.
HL is BH Time: In league play only, Ben Higgins is second in the league slugging (.831), OPS (1.249) and RBIs (30).
Masto-Slams: The 'Dons hit grand slams in back-to-back games against Northern Kentucky. On March 24 Ben Higgins hit a grand slam and then in game one on March 26 Jarrett Bickel hit a game-tying grand slam in the seventh inning of a 9-5 win.
Save X4: Four different Mastodons have recorded a save this season. Brody Fine, Mac Ayres, JD Deany, and Justin Miller own saves for the 'Dons.
Closing Time: Justin Miller owns eight career saves, fourth most in Mastodon history for career saves.
'Dons Dig The Long Ball: 11 different Mastodons have hit a home run this season, it is the most since 2013 when 11 different 'Dons hit a home run. The 2003 season saw 13 Mastodons hit a home run, the most during the Mastodon Division I era.
Multi-verse: 15 different Mastodons have had a multi-hit game this season.
Hey Batter Batter (of the Week): Braedon Blackford hit .429 and slugged 1.357 with four home runs in 14 at bats over four games played in Winston-Salem, N.C. (March 3-5). He also recorded one double, seven RBIs, five runs scored, two walks and 19 total bases to earn the Horizon League Batter of the Week honor.
Hey Batter Batter (of the Week) X2: Ben Higgins was named the Horizon League Batter of the Week on April 4 for his play the prior weekend. His play was highlighted by his thee home run performance at Youngstown State on March 31). Higgins was the first Mastodon to hit three big flys in a game since 2016.
D1Baseball Top 30: Braedon Blackford was named a Top 30 Hitter of the day for his two-run home run game vs. Cornell. He was ranked No. 11. He also earned the No. 12 spot on the list after his five-hit, six-RBI doubleheader against Milwaukee (April 15). JD Deany was selected as a Top 30 pitcher for his five shutout innings vs. Cornell. Ben Higgins was named the No. 3 hitter of the day by DIBaseball.com for his three dinger day against Youngstown State. Jacob Walker (21st) and Caileb Johnson (25th) earned spots on the daily top 30 list for their performances at Northern Kentucky. Walker drove in seven runs with a home run. Johnson had four hits, four RBIs and two home runs.
Up Next: The 'Dons travel to Toledo in non-league play on May 16th.
RECORD WATCH: Multiple Mastodons are lurking around the top 10 in program history in several stats this season.
Individual Records:
RBIs
Single Season Record: 54 Jared Davis (2007)
10th place: 44 (multiple times)
Braedon Blackford: 49 (currently 3rd)
Ben Higgins: 42
Runs
Single Season Record: 53 Brandon Soat (2015) and Terry Johnson (1997)
10th place: 44 (multiple times)
Braedon Blackford: 43
Total Bases
Single Season Record: 150 Greg Kaiser (2016)
10th place: 107 (twice)
Braedon Blackford: 109 (currently tied for 8th)
Home Runs
Single Season Record: 18 Shaun VanDriessche (2010)
Braedon Blackford: 13 (currently 4th)
Caileb Johnson: 11 (currently tied for 8th)
Ben Higgins: 10 (currently tied for 9th)
Walks
Single Season Record: 54 Malcolm White (2012)
Cade Nelis: 32 (currently tied for 9th)
Team Records:
Doubles
Single Season Record: 99 (2016)
Currently: 95 (2nd)
Home Runs
Single Season Record: 55 (2010)
Currently: 50 (2nd)
Hit By Pitch
Single Season Record: 79 (1999 & 2002)
Currently: 63 (8th)
Hits
Single Season Record: 539 (2014)
10th place: 444 (2009)
Currently: 430
Slugging %
Single Season Record: .494 (1998 & 1997)
Division I era Record: .435 (2005)
10th place: .420 (1989 & 2015)
Currently: .417
Runs Batted In
Single Season Record: 325 (2015)
10th place: 250 (1995)
Currently: 256
Runs
Single Season Record: 355 (1997)
Division I era Record: 353 (2015)
10th place: 277 (1999)
Currently: 275
Walks
Single Season Record: 230 (2016)
10th place: 194 (2005)
Currently: 190
OBP
Single Season Record: .415 (1997)
Division I era Record: .409 (2005)
10th place: .377 (1989)
Currently: .359
Double Plays
Single Season Record: 70 (1998)
Division I era Record: 48 (2010)
10th place: 40 (multiple times)
Currently: 33
Runners Picked Off
Single Season Record: 25 (2009)
10th place: 11 (multiple times)
Currently: 10
Strikeouts
Single Season Record: 398 (2015)
Currently: 345 (4th)
~ Feel the Rumble ~
Players Mentioned
INF/P
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INF/C
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P
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OF
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1B/OF
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P
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C/OF
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OF
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INF/OF
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