B1G Baseball Update 4/21 - 4/27

STANDINGS	CONF.	PCT.	OVERALL	PCT.	HOME	AWAY	NEUTRAL	LAST 10	STREAK
Maryland	12-3-0	.800	28-11-0	.718	18-1-0	6-8-0	4-2-0	8-2-0	W7
Minnesota	8-4-0	.667	24-12-0	.667	11-7-0	13-5-0	0-0-0	6-4-0	W1
Nebraska	7-4-1	.625	24-15-1	.613	12-5-0	9-4-1	3-6-0	6-4-0	W2
Purdue	9-6-0	.600	23-18-0	.561	7-4-0	16-14-0	0-0-0	6-4-0	W5
Michigan	7-5-0	.583	31-9-0	.775	18-4-0	7-3-0	6-2-0	7-3-0	W1
Indiana	8-6-1	.567	22-16-2	.575	7-6-1	12-8-1	3-2-0	7-3-0	W1
Iowa	6-6-0	.500	24-15-0	.615	13-3-0	5-9-0	6-3-0	5-5-0	W1
Rutgers	4-5-0	.444	15-23-0	.395	4-7-0	11-16-0	0-0-0	5-5-0	L1
Michigan State	5-7-0	.417	21-16-0	.568	7-5-0	10-9-0	4-2-0	4-6-0	W1
Northwestern	5-7-0	.417	16-23-0	.410	8-10-0	8-13-0	0-0-0	7-3-0	L1
Ohio State	4-8-0	.333	16-24-0	.400	5-11-0	6-8-0	5-5-0	3-7-0	W1
Illinois	3-9-0	.250	16-22-0	.421	9-8-0	6-12-0	1-2-0	6-4-0	W1
Penn State	2-10-0	.167	14-26-0	.350	8-8-0	4-16-0	2-2-0	3-7-0	W2

Going into the final week of April we see a shake up at the top of the B1G where the Terps currently sit with Minnesota, Nebraska, and...what's this?...Purdue?!?...not far behind. RPI as of 4/26/17

Illinois 16-22 (3-9) RPI: 170

04/21/17 at Purdue L 2-4
04/22/17 at Purdue L 1-4
04/23/17 at Purdue L 1-2
04/25/17 at Bradley W 8-6

The Illini were on the road all this week and got swept in a close series with Purdue which dropped them 20 RPI points. Illinois will keep the bags packed this week as well with a trip to Minneapolis and Carbondale.

Up next:
4/28 - 4/29 @Minnesota
5/2 @Southern Illinois

Indiana 22-16-2 (8-6-1) RPI: 24

04/21/17 at Michigan W 1-0
04/22/17 at Michigan W 12-9
04/23/17 at Michigan L 5-12
04/25/17 vs. Ball State W 4-3

A scrappy Indiana squad keeps picking off the top teams and last week was no different with the series win in Ann Arbor. This moves them up into the top 25 in RPI but another challenge awaits this weekend in hosting current top dog Maryland.

Up next:
4/28 - 4/30 Maryland

Iowa 24-15 (6-6) RPI: 112

04/21/17 RUTGERS W 8-3
04/22/17 RUTGERS L 3-5
04/23/17 RUTGERS L 5-13
04/25/17 MILWAUKEE W 4-3

Iowa picked up the big win at Nebraska only to drop a home series to Rutgers last weekend causing the RPI to take a hit. They'll get a chance to redeem themselves this weekend hosting PSU.

Up next:
4/28 - 4/29 PSU
5/2 @Western Illinois

#22 Maryland 28-11 (12-3) RPI: 26

04/21/17 MICHIGAN STATE W 12-2
04/23/17 MICHIGAN STATE W 2-1
04/23/17 MICHIGAN STATE W 6-2

Pretty productive week for the Terps in that they got the sweep, found themselves ranked again, and are now at the top of the B1G. Maryland is also riding a 7 game win streak but that will be tested this weekend in a huge road trip to Indiana.

Up next:
4/28 - 4/30 @Indiana
5/3 Towson

#17 Michigan 31-9 (7-5) RPI: 34

04/21/17 INDIANA L 0-1
04/22/17 INDIANA L 9-12
04/23/17 INDIANA W 12-5

Michigan had a tough test with the Hoosiers losing a close series at home which dropped them in the B1G standings. Even though the Wolverines are ranked and have a damn good overall record it is interesting to see the B1G record slightly above .500. This could be a testament to the quality of play found in the conference. Michigan will get a chance to improve their B1G standings with a trip to Rutgers.

Up next:
4/28 - 4/30 @Rutgers

Michigan State 21-16 (5-7) RPI: 83

04/21/17 at Maryland L 2-12
04/23/17 at Maryland L 1-2
04/23/17 at Maryland L 2-6
04/26/17 TOLEDO W 11-1

Got the broom treatment on the trip to Maryland which puts the Spartans in a fight to keep themselves considered for the B1G tournament. MSU will stay on the road this weekend with an important series with Northwestern where both teams are fighting for a spot in Bloomington.

Up next:
4/28 - 4/29 @Northwestern

Minnesota 24-12 (8-4) RPI: 61

04/21/17 NEBRASKA L 3-5
04/22/17 NEBRASKA W 5-3
04/23/17 NEBRASKA L 4-9
04/25/17 at Northeastern Illinois W 3-2

Dropped a close series with Nebraska causing the Gophers to relinquish the top spot in the B1G. Minnesota will get a chance to make up some ground this weekend in hosting the Illini.

Up next:
4/28 - 4/29 Illinois
5/2 - 5/3 Georgia St.

Nebraska 24-15-1 (7-4-1) RPI: 37

04/21/17 at Minnesota W 5-3
04/22/17 at Minnesota L 3-5
04/23/17 at Minnesota W 9-4
04/25/17 OMAHA W 13-2

After a disappointing week previously the Huskers rebounded nicely with a series win over the Gophers keeping them in the hunt for the conference title. Nebraska will try to keep themselves at the top with a battle in Columbus this weekend.

Up next:
4/28 - 4/30 @Ohio St.

Northwestern 16-23 (5-7) RPI: 246

04/21/17 at Penn State W 12-5
04/22/17 at Penn State W 7-4
04/23/17 at Penn State L 1-2

The Wildcats notched their second conference series win this past weekend in State College getting them closer to the goal of making it to the B1G tourney. Northwestern will take on the Spartans this weekend at Rocky Miller Park in a pivotal battle for both teams trying to end up in Bloomington.

Up next:
4/28 - 4/29 Michigan St.
5/2 @Notre Dame

Ohio State 16-24 (4-8) RPI: 163

04/21/17 UNCG L 4-11
04/22/17 UNCG L 4-11
04/23/17 UNCG W 5-4

The Buckeyes had a rough go of it against Greensboro dropping the series in convincing fashion. aOSU will challenge themselves this week with hosting Nebraska and a potentially RPI boasting mid-week series with the Red Raiders.

Up next:
4/28 - 4/30 Nebraska
5/2 - 5/3 Texas Tech

Penn State 14-26 (2-10) RPI: 210

04/21/17 NORTHWESTERN L 5-12
04/22/17 NORTHWESTERN L 4-7
04/23/17 NORTHWESTERN W 2-1
04/26/17 LAFAYETTE W 9-2

The Nits will stay in the B1G baseball basement for now after losing the series to the Wildcats. PSU will try to put that loss behind them and build on their B1G wins this weekend in a trip to Iowa City.

Up next:
4/28 - 4/29 @Iowa

Purdue 23-18 (9-6) RPI: 115

04/21/17 ILLINOIS W 4-2
04/22/17 ILLINOIS W 4-1
04/23/17 ILLINOIS W 2-1
04/25/17 IPFW W 18-0

If we had a most improved award for B1G baseball then the Boilermakers have it locked up already. In going from ten wins total last year to top four currently in the standings is a major accomplishment and no matter what else happens on the season Purdue should be happy for that. After going undefeated last week the Boilers will take their 5 game win streak away from conference play this weekend and will take on the Billikens of St. Louis

Up next:
4/28 - 4/30 St. Louis

Rutgers 15-23 (4-5) RPI: 89

04/21/17 at Iowa L 3-8
04/22/17 at Iowa W 5-3
04/23/17 at Iowa W 13-5
04/26/17 COLUMBIA L 7-13

The Knights proved the Purdue series wasn't a fluke and came into Iowa City to snag the series win over the Hawkeyes which upped the RPI 20 points. The test gets tougher this weekend though with hosting a ranked Michigan squad.

Up next:
4/28 - 4/30 Michigan
5/2 Wagner

Wisconsin -
I

Players of the Week

April 24th 2017

Player of the Week -

Joe Hoscheit Sr. Northwestern

After getting the first Northwestern POTW in four years Hoscheit came back for seconds. He hit a .400 AVG last week with 6 hits, 7 RBIs, and scored 3 runs. This is his second player of the week award.

Pitcher of the Week -

Gareth Stroh So. Purdue

Got a save against the Sycamores and pitched a complete game in a win over Illinois. In that complete game he shut down 27 of 29 batters allowing just 2 hits, notching 8 strikeouts, and giving up zero walks. This is his first pitcher of the week award.

Freshman of the Week -

Michael Massey - Illinois

Had a .500 AVG with 8 hits, 4 RBIs, scoring 3 runs, and a HR. Also had a career high 3 hits in back-to-back games. This is his first freshman of the week award.

I Want My BTN

All times EST

BTN/ BTN2Go 2017 Baseball Schedule

Sunday, April 30, 2017

MSU - Northwestern 3pm

Tuesday, May 02, 2017

Georgia State - Minnesota 7:30 pm

BTN/ BTN2Go 2017 Softball Schedule

Friday, April 28, 2017

PSU - Maryland 6pm

Northwestern - Nebraska 8pm

Saturday, April 29, 2017

Purdue - Minnesota 1pm

Indiana - Michigan 3pm

Schedules and players of the week courtesy of bigten.org

RPI courtesy of Boyd's World (http://www.boydsworld.com/baseball/rpi/currentrpi.html)