March 28, 1999
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue softball team (17-12) split its final two games of the Boilermaker Classic on Sunday, defeating Loyola (Ill.) 9-0 and losing to Indiana State 14-4. Purdue finished the six-team tourney in a tie for second place with a 2-2 record. Two players for Purdue made the all-tournament team in senior co-captain Sam Mercier and freshman Katie Crabtree. Michigan won the tourney with the only 4-0 record.
"The last game was a shock," Purdue head coach Carol Bruggeman said. "For three hours and 45 minutes on Sunday, we played great softball. For the most part we had great defense and hitting, including two home runs by freshmen Chrissy Davie and Katie Crabtree. Up until the last 15 minutes of the day, we played well."
In game one, Purdue pounded out 10 hits and scored in each of the first four innings. Senior Denise Szany opened up the scoring with a two-run homer to left field in the first and Mercier followed with a two-run shot to left in the second. Crabtree went 3-for-3 in the contest with two singles, one double, one RBI and three stolen bases. Davie also hit the ball well, going 2-for-3 with an RBI. Freshman pitcher Nicole Crouse (8-6) gave up just two hits in the complete-game victory.
Against Indiana State, Crabtree and Davie both hit home runs with two outs in the fourth to tie the game at 3-3. However, the Sycamores exploded for 11 runs on nine hits and three errors in the sixth inning to take control. Junior Crystal Inman (0-1) suffered the loss for Purdue.
Crabtree earned all-tournament honors after hitting .455 with five hits and six stolen bases. Mercier was close behind at .364 with four hits and a home run.
The Boilers will now face Ball State at 2 p.m. on March 30 for a doubleheader in Muncie, Ind.
R H EPurdue 9 10 0Loyola 0 2 1
Indiana State 14 16 2Purdue 4 8 3