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GOLD & BLACK ILLUSTRATED VOLUME 25, ISSUE 4 73 the Big Ten's third-highest conference winning percentage from 2000-12. "We don't have a lot of those guys who were even around in 2012, so it's an attitude (we need) and it starts with a work ethic when the stands are empty. You've got to get your work done, but these guys have done a great job. "I think they're a little bit battle test- ed, a little older, more experienced, but definitely eager to get this thing going. You can't wish any days away, because we have to keep getting better each day, but they're eager to get going." The Boilermakers will have a new look. In trying to rebuild, Schreiber brought in 14 newcomers, whether they be freshmen (six), junior college trans- fers (five) or Division I transfers (three) who sat out a season ago. They join 21 holdovers on the 35-man roster. "It's a more talented team than the last couple years," junior center fielder Kyle Johnson said. "We had some guys come in … and overall the team chem- istry is better. We have a better winning attitude. "There was something missing last year and the year before that. I feel like everyone this year is on board, everyone wants to win. Everyone wants to do ev- erything they can to help this team win. I think that's what's going to be different." The transfers will help immediately. Mike Vilardo, who graduated from Penn in only three-and-a-half years, came to Purdue at the start of the winter semester and, as a graduate transfer, is immediately eligible. An All-Ivy League second-teamer, the second baseman is likely to be at the top of Purdue's line- up. Brett Carlson, who played on Aus- tin Peay's NCAA Tournament team two seasons ago, is a corner outfielder and backup infielder. And local product Bri- an Ghiselli, a right-hander who played a year at Miami (Ohio), is projected to start the season as a late-inning reliever. "They're really going to make an im- pact for us," Schreiber said. "… All three of them played in the summer, got expe- rience and got their baseball feet under them again, and they've done nothing but bring that maturity level you're looking for, that game experience and a physical, more mature body that's going to be able to make an impact right away." But the heart of Purdue's lineup will be returning veterans, like Wood and Johnson. The duo will hit in the heart of the order, with catcher Jake Picchiotti, but they'll need to produce runs. A year ago, as the Boilermakers, who finished with a 13-37 record, struggled to hit — the .235 batting average and 169 runs scored were the worst in the Big Ten — the trio combined for only 41 RBIs. For Wood, who led Purdue in batting at .302 in 2013, the task now is to hit teammates home. "That's part of my role," Wood said, "being a run producer and putting up runs, not necessarily worrying about av- erage or this or that, but that's my role for the team, get runs on the board any way I can." But Purdue's issues last season weren't as significant in the middle of the order as they were the bottom; its last three hitters frequently were below the Mendoza line, averaging less than .200. And as a result, entered innings with seemingly little — or, at least, sig- nificantly reduced — chances to score. But the Boilermakers feel the infu- sion of talent can balance their lineup. "We have some guys who can drive the ball in the middle of our order and guys who are good at getting on and stealing bases, good base runners, else- where," Wood said. "That'll help us to more easily produce runs." 2015 BASEBALL SCHEDULE Date Opponent Time/Result Feb. 13 at Western Carolina L, 6-17 Feb. 14 at Western Carolina L, 4-15 Feb. 14 at Western Carolina W, 9-5 Kieberg Bank College Classic Feb. 20 at Texas A&M-Corpus Christi L. 2-6 Feb. 21 vs. Sam Houston State W, 4-3 (12) Feb. 21 vs. Sam Houston State W, 9-7 Feb. 22 vs. Missouri L, 0-1 ASU Phoenix Muni Classic Feb. 26 vs. Gonzaga 3 p.m. Feb. 27 at Arizona State 8:30 p.m. Feb. 28 vs. Gonzaga 3 p.m. March 1 vs. CSU Bakersfield Noon March 6 at Oklahoma 7 p.m. March 7 at Oklahoma 3 p.m. March 8 at Oklahoma 1 p.m. March 13 NORTHERN ILLINOIS 5:30 p.m. March 14 NORTHERN ILLINOIS 2 p.m. March 15 NORTHERN ILLINOIS 5 p.m. March 17 at Louisville Noon March 18 VALPARAISO 5:30 p.m. March 20 RUTGERS 5:30 p.m. March 21 RUTGERS 5:30 p.m. March 22 RUTGERS Noon March 24 KENT STATE 5:30 p.m. March 25 at Ball State 3 p.m. March 27 BUTLER 5:30 p.m. March 28 BUTLER 2 p.m. March 29 at Butler 1 p.m. March 31 WESTERN MICHIGAN 5:30 p.m. April 1 IPFW 5:30 p.m. April 3 IOWA 5:30 p.m. April 4 IOWA 2 p.m. April 5 IOWA 1 p.m. April 7 at Indiana State 6 p.m. April 10 at Illinois 7 p.m. April 11 at Illinois 4 p.m. April 12 at Illinois 2 p.m. April 15 IPFW 5:30 p.m. April 17 at Michigan 4 p.m. April 18 at Michigan 2 p.m. April 19 at Michigan 1 p.m. April 21 INDIANA STATE 5:30 p.m. April 22 BALL STATE 5:30 p.m. April 24 MARYLAND 5:30 p.m. April 25 MARYLAND 2 p.m. April 26 MARYLAND Noon April 28 ILLINOIS STATE 5:30 p.m. May 1 at Michigan State 3 p.m. May 2 at Michigan State 1 p.m. May 3 at Michigan State 1 p.m. May 9 at Nebraska 3 p.m. May 10 at Nebraska 2 p.m. May 11 at Nebraska 2 p.m. May 12 at Valparaiso 4 p.m. May 14 PENN STATE 6:30 p.m. May 15 PENN STATE 6:30 p.m. May 16 PENN STATE 1 p.m. Big Ten Tournament (Minneapolis) May 20-24 TBA TBA NCAA Regionals (TBA) May 29-June 1 TBA TBA All times ET