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Former Chief, Kyle Iwinski named Big Ten Pitcher of the week!

ROSEMONT, Ill. – Paul Toetz provided the power and Kyle Iwinski carved up the opposition with lethal efficiency in Purdue baseball’s series win during weekend No. 3, earning the duo Big Ten Player and Pitcher of the Week honors for their performances.

Iwinski retired 21 of the 22 batters he faced in his first career start as a Boilermaker, shutting out Akron on 78 pitches in a game that ended in the seventh inning due to a 10-run rule. He was also among Collegiate Baseball’s National Players of the Week honor roll.

Toetz slugged his way to a 9-for-15 series that produced five extra-base hits and a 2.180 OPS over four games. He barreled up for two home runs in games 2 and 4 of the weekend, finishing the weekend with 11 RBI. Toetz baseman also tripled off the center field wall Friday. Defensively, the second baseman threw runners out at third base and home plate on excellent relay throws from right field.

The Boilermakers produced the Big Ten Player and Pitcher of the Week for the first time since February 2011, following the season-opening weekend.

Iwinski struck out eight in his gem, matching the season high by a Boilermaker. The only base runner he allowed came on a leadoff single by Akron’s cleanup hitter in the fifth inning. In the meantime, Iwinski retired the first 12 batters of the game and the final nine batters he faced. Iwinski’s game score of 83 ranked tied for third nationally for the weekend. Since 2012, he became just the seventh Boilermaker to pitch a gem that produced a game score of at least 83.

THE LAST TIME

  • A Boilermaker won Big Ten Player of the Week: Nick Dalesandro – April 2018
  • Purdue swept Big Ten Player and Pitcher of the Week: Barrett Serrato & Matt Morgan – February 2011
  • A Boilermaker hit four home runs in the same weekend: Dan Black – 2008 Big Ten Tournament
  • A Boilermaker threw a complete game: Tanner Andrews – May 2018 vs. Ohio State at the Big Ten Tournament
  • A Boilermaker threw a complete-game shutout: Tanner Andrews – March 2017 at Southeast Missouri State
  • Purdue scored 50-plus runs in a 4-game weekend: February 2011 at Morehead State (55)

Jackson Smeltz was also recognized as a Collegiate Baseball National Player of the Week and the Big Ten Pitcher of the Week last season after he racked up 13 strikeouts in his eight innings of one-hit ball in a home win vs. Indiana. That was Purdue’s last shutout win until Iwinski blanked Akron. The Boilermakers had not won in shutout fashion away from Alexander Field since a February 2019 win at Texas.

Led by Evan Albrecht (9-for-12, .750 OBP in 16 PA, 6 RBI, 9 R), CJ Vadlez (6-for-13, 5 doubles) and Toetz, Purdue scored 53 runs over the final three games of the series. Purdue had not scored 50-plus runs in a four-game series in a dozen years.

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