WEST LAFAYETTE — Jake Kramer let go of his final pitch on Sunday, May 3, finding the strike zone as Murray State’s Daylan Pena watched while being rung up for strike three.
This has become old hat for the Boilermaker closer, who improved his streak of scoreless innings at Purdue baseball’s home ballpark Alexander Field to 14.
In 14 appearances since mid-March, only once has Kramer failed to get through an inning unscathed. Kramer has not allowed a run this season at Alexander Field, where Purdue is set to host rival Indiana in a three-game series starting Friday.
“Ever since my freshman year, I’ve been a closer,” said Kramer, in his final season of college baseball after spending the past three seasons at Division II California University (Pennsylvania). “I’ve become immune to the process of being out there when it’s stressful. I trust everybody that’s behind me and I trust myself to get us out of those games.”
When former assistant coach Terry Rooney left following the 2023 season, Purdue head coach Greg Goff’s first phone call went to Josh Newman, a former Major Leaguer who spent six seasons as Penn State’s pitching coach.
The Boilermakers are reaping the rewards of that phone call during Newman’s third season in West Lafayette. It’s a primary reason Purdue resides fifth in the Big Ten standings with six league games remaining.
If the Boilermakers do enough damage down the stretch and in the Big Ten Tournament to earn a postseason bid, it’ll rely on its surging pitching staff.
From April 26 through May 2, Purdue tossed 27 consecutive innings without issuing a walk. In its most recent series against Murray State, Boilermaker pitchers logged 23 scoreless innings in three games.
Purdue has done it by committee. Led by Friday and Saturday starters junior Cole Van Assen and senior Zach Erdman, who transferred this season from Texas Tech, the Boilers have a staff where eight players have tossed more than 10 innings in Purdue’s 24 conference games.
“We want dynamics. Coach (Barrett) Serrato, he is the best I’ve ever been around as far as a recruiting coordinator. He’s spearheaded all that,” Newman said. “We talk about what we need, defense and from a pitching staff standpoint, the dynamics. Each guy, whether it’s a high slot, low slot, we want different dynamics. You see that we have those looks out of the bullpen, the different looks that we can throw out there.”
The idea is simple. Throw strikes early and often. Avoid free passes.
Purdue (32-15) has lowered its walk rate to less than 3.5 per game.
“Looking at the numbers, if you throw over the plate early in counts, you have a good chance of getting them out. Just go at guys,” said Van Assen, a three-year starter and 2024 Big Ten All-Freshman Team selection.
The ability of Purdue’s starters to consistently get the Boilermakers into the sixth inning has set the stage for a hopeful NCAA Regional bid. Purdue hasn’t been to the NCAA Tournament since 2018, but has an opportunity to change that with a strong finish to the season.
At the conclusion of 61 consecutive innings at Alexander Field, Purdue has not trailed. That’s been a stat that’s allowed Kramer’s talent to flourish, and why Purdue has dropped just two series this season despite injury setbacks to four key players.
Kramer, who came to Purdue with 27 career college saves, ranks sixth in the Big Ten with seven saves, but also ranks second in the league among closers with four wins.
“I knew if we could get through seven innings, we would have Kramer for the eighth and ninth if we needed to,” Goff said. “I coach in a way where if I can just have a lead going into the eighth, that’s what I do. That’s why we bunt and do some things like that to try to get that lead.
“I feel like, hey man, if we can get a lead with six outs to go, we’ve got it. We’re going to go win the game with Kramer. It just makes a huge difference.”
Sam King covers sports for the Journal & Courier. Email him at sking@jconline.com and follow him on X and Instagram @samueltking.
This article originally appeared on Lafayette Journal & Courier: Purdue baseball’s surging pitching staff gives Boilers NCAA hopes
Reporting by Sam King, Lafayette Journal & Courier / Lafayette Journal & Courier
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