OMAHA, Neb. (Interstat) — Purdue and Iowa will meet Thursday afternoon/evening at Sapp Fieldhouse in a non-conference baseball game that carries significant postseason implications for both teams.

The Boilermakers enter with a 35-19 record across all competitions, while the Hawkeyes sit at 30-22. The game will be played at the neutral site in Omaha, providing a potential preview of the kind of environment both teams might face in the NCAA tournament.

These programs are plenty familiar with each other. In a three-game series earlier this month in Iowa City, the Hawkeyes swept the Boilermakers, outscoring them 39-21. Iowa won 10-7, 14-5 and 15-9 from May 14-16. Purdue will look to reverse that trend on a neutral field.

Iowa is coming off a 4-3 loss to Michigan State on Wednesday, a game in which junior right-hander Kyle Alivo turned in a strong start — 5.2 innings, five hits, one earned run and seven strikeouts. Alivo has been inconsistent this season: He threw five innings of one-run ball with nine strikeouts in a win over Purdue on May 14, but also surrendered three earned runs in one-third of an inning against Nebraska on May 9. In 10 appearances this season, Alivo has logged quality outings against Illinois (May 1: 5 IP, 1 ER, 8 K) and Indiana (April 24: 4 IP, 0 ER, 7 K), but has also struggled with command at times.

For Purdue, sophomore right-hander Zach Erdman is expected to take the mound. Erdman pitched six innings of one-run ball with four strikeouts in a 3-1 win over Illinois on Wednesday. He has been steady recently, allowing two earned runs or fewer in three of his last four starts. However, his lone start against Iowa on May 15 was his worst of the season: five innings, four earned runs on no hits and just one strikeout in a 14-5 loss. Erdman’s best outings include a six-inning, scoreless, eight-strikeout performance against Murray State on May 2 and a six-inning, two-run effort against Indiana on May 9.

Purdue’s overall offense has been productive, averaging more than eight runs per game over its last five contests. Iowa’s lineup showed life in the series against Purdue, with designated hitter Ben Swails going 3-for-4 against Michigan State on Wednesday.

First pitch is scheduled for Thursday afternoon/evening at Sapp Fieldhouse.