The 2025 season will be the last year the Purdue Fort Wayne Mastodons play baseball. The school announced that it would discontinue both its baseball and softball programs.
According to a press release by the school, the move came because of budget cuts the school was taking, which are $6 million total.
Purdue Fort Wayne’s athletic director, Kelley Hartley Hutton, was unhappy about the decision that was made.
“This is one of the saddest days in my 25 years as a Mastodon,” Hutton said. “We know this news will upset our student-athletes, alumni, and fans. It was not made lightly, and we are committed to supporting those affected through this transition.”
This season, the Mastodons went 11-42 and were 9-20 in Horizon League play. Their season came to an end at the Horizon League Tournament at Nischwitz Stadium, home of the Wright State Raiders. Milwaukee defeated them 15-4 in game one of the tournament on May 21.
Purdue Fort Wayne’s first season in college baseball was 1970. That year, they went 8-6 in the 14 games they played.
In their entire history, they have never won any sort of championship, including no conference regular season or tournament titles. The program also never went to the NCAA Tournament.
The current head coach, Doug Schreiber, has been with the Mastodons program since 2020. His record in Fort Wayne, Ind., was 66-161.
Schreiber’s first season with Purdue Fort Wayne was also the last year they were in the Summit League before switching to the Horizon League in 2021.
_____
More NCAA Coverage: https://worldbaseball.com/league/ncaa/