Bringing on the best

Purdue has won three-straight conference series, but it’ll have its work cut out this weekend to keep the streak alive against Northwestern, the No. 1 team in the Big Ten.

The Boilermakers (21-20, 8-6 Big Ten) have won all but one conference series, going 0-3 in their Big Ten opener against Michigan. That same Michigan team paid the No. 21 Wildcats (27-8, 13-1 Big Ten) a visit a couple weeks later and went home with its only three conference losses to date.

Purdue played a rescheduled doubledheader against IU on Wednesday and came out with _ wins in the midweek matchup. Northwestern also had an outing this week, winning its 19th game of the last 20 on Tuesday against Illinois.

Sizing up the cats

Neither team exactly dominates the Big Ten’s offensive stat board, save for the Cats’ conference-best .507 slugging percentage. But what Northwestern lacks in offensive firepower, they make up in the pitching circle.

The Wildcats lead the conference with a 2.14 ERA, lowest batting average against at .217 and the least batters walked. The best of the lot, Ashley Miller, has been named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week three times this season.

Miller is 14-4 this season and has four saves. Of the 17 games she started, Miller went the distance in 14 of them. Her ERA of 1.24 and batting average against of .167 are both conference bests, and her 143 strikeouts are more than every Purdue pitcher combined.

Collectively, the Cats claim a collective .281 batting average, not much better than the Boilers’ .271 average. Northwestern is led by Kansas Robinson at the plate with a .442 batting average, an .837 slugging percentage and a .545 on-base percentage. Purdue’s top hitter is Khloe Banks with a .364 average and .467 slugging percentage.

The series starts Friday at 5 p.m. at Bitinger stadium. The Boilers are running a “Barbie at Bitt” promotion, and encourage fans to wear pink to the game. They are also collecting nonperishable food items.