AP Sports Preview

IOWA CITY, Iowa (Interstat) — The Boilermakers look to keep their hot streak alive Thursday when Purdue visits Iowa in a Big Ten series opener at Duane Banks Field.

First pitch is set for 6 p.m. under clear skies with temperatures near 67 degrees.

Purdue (34-15) enters on a five-game winning streak after sweeping Indiana and Murray State. The Boilermakers’ potent offense is fueled by outfielder Avery Moore, who is 13 for 23 over his last seven games with three home runs, eight RBIs and multiple hits in six of those contests. In the series finale against Indiana on Sunday, Moore went 4 for 4 with two homers and four RBIs in an 11-8 victory.

Iowa (26-21) dropped its most recent series at Nebraska, falling 8-6 on Sunday. The Hawkeyes counter with reliever Jaron Bleeker, who threw 5 1/3 scoreless innings of one-hit ball with five strikeouts in that game. Bleeker has allowed one earned run over his last 9 1/3 innings across two appearances.

Interstat’s game simulation projects an 8-5 Purdue win, though the ELO model gives Iowa a 56.6 percent probability to win.

The teams continue the three-game series Friday and Saturday at Duane Banks Field.