Feb. 18, 2000
By Tom Schott
RALEIGH N.C. - Purdue softball coach Carol Bruggeman would like the weather to warm up - along with her team's chilled bats.
The Boilermakers continued their season-long batting slump Friday at the Triangle Classic, losing 2-1 to Akron and 6-0 to North Carolina. All the while, temperatures struggled to stay in the low 40s under cloudy skies.
"Needless to say, we have to find some offense," Bruggeman said. "We just need to break out of it. But we're playing a lot of freshmen and sophomores, so I know it's going to take some time. I just hope it comes in February and doesn't wait until May."
Through seven games, the Boilermakers (1-6) are batting a collective .225 (40-for-178) while averaging a paltry 1.9 runs per game.
Akron pitchers Lisa Kennan and Sherell Watson limited the Boilermakers to merely five hits. Sophomore second baseman Danika Nice accounted for all of Purdue's scoring with a third-inning home run to center field. It was her first career extra-base hit and RBI.
Purdue had its chances but was 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position.
Trailing 1-0, Akron scored both of its runs in the bottom of the third. Catcher Julie Villard drove in the tying run with a two-out single, and second baseman Tracee McCoy subsequently crossed the plate with the winning run on a wild pitch by Purdue starting and losing sophomore pitcher Nicole Crouse.
Crouse (0-2) worked three-plus innings, surrendering four hits and two walks. Senior Crystal Inman came on in the fourth and held the Zips scoreless the rest of the way on two hits and one walk with one strikeout.
Kennan scattered five hits - four of them singles - over six innings to win her first decision of the year. Watson pitched the seventh to pick up the save. Purdue had the tying run at second base with one out but failed in two attempts to even the score.
North Carolina pitchers Radara McHugh and Michael Parrott handcuffed Purdue batters to the tune of six hits. Purdue sophomore shortstop Katie Crabtree and junior center fielder Lynne Tortorelli, the Boilermakers' 1-2 batters, both had two hits.
Meanwhile, the Tar Heels scored all six of their runs in the third inning while batting around against Purdue freshman Leighann Burke (1-2). The big blows were a three-run homer by center fielder Jen Klesaris and a two-run blast by first baseman Beth Olen.
Burke worked all seven innings and gave up 12 hits - six of the infield variety - while walking none and striking out seven.
The Boilermakers continue pool play Saturday against Temple at 9:30 a.m. Single-elimination bracket play begins late Saturday afternoon and concludes Sunday.