May 2, 1999
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A year ago, the Purdue softball team (29-24, 8-12 Big Ten) spoiled senior day at Iowa with a 4-2 win over the Hawkeyes. This year, Iowa (37-22-1, 11-8) returned the favor with a 9-3 victory over the Boilers on Sunday at the Varsity Softball Complex.
Seven runs in the first two innings by Iowa proved to be too much for the Boilers to overcome, as the Hawkeyes completed a three-game sweep. Only four of the Hawkeyes' nine runs were earned, as Purdue committed five errors. Kristi Hanks (15-9) was the winning pitcher while Nicole Crouse (13-13) took the loss.
Six Purdue seniors took the field for the last time at the Varsity Softball Complex on Sunday after a special ceremony with their parents prior to the game. Jenny Barnett, Kristin Billen, Kristie Boland, Sam Mercier, Mandy Smart and Denise Szany were honored for their accomplishments at Purdue. Together, the six players have combined for some impressive numbers this season, including a .303 batting average, 237 of the team's 414 hits, 123 of its' 185 RBI's and 88 of its' 218 runs.
The Boilers will now focus on final exams before traveling to Northwestern for the season finale in Evanston, Ill. The three-game series begins at 1 p.m. on May 8.
Purdue has not mathematically been eliminated from the Big Ten Tournament, as it currently stands in seventh place with one week to go. If Purdue sweeps Northwestern and both Wisconsin and Iowa lose all five games this week, then the Boilers would finish in fifth place. Stranger things have happened.
R H EIowa 9 11 1Purdue 3 3 5