Feb. 25, 2000
Santa Barbara, Calif. - The Purdue softball team won their first two games at the UCSB Invitational in Santa Barbara Calif., Friday coming back to beat San Diego State 4-3 in the first game and holding on to down host Santa Barbara 3-1 in the second. The Boilers collected 14 hits in the two games bringing their overall record to 6-7 on the season and extending their winning streak to four.
"I'm pleased with the way we played today," coach Carol Bruggeman said. "Our pitching staff was outstanding, their performances on the mound really kept us in both games. We used all four of them today and each one of them went out and did their job. The offense really stepped it up, getting some big hits with two outs. We are continuing to improve with each game, which is encouraging at this point of the season."
The Boilers used a Katie Crabtree solo home run in the bottom fifth, her fourth of the season, to complete the Purdue come from behind victory against San Diego state. Getting off to a sluggish start, Purdue committed an error in the first and two in the third which led to three Aztec runs off starter Meagan Dooley, who saw her streak of scoreless innings end at 14. Down 3-0 in the bottom of the third the team rallied to tie the score.
Outfielder Lynne Tortorelli was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and start the Boiler rally. The junior stole second and moved to third on a single by Crabtree. Aztec pitcher Tiffany Goudy then severed up a wild pitch to Jesse Jones allowing Tortorelli to cross the plate and moving Crabtree to second, who then moved onto third on a pass ball by San Diego State catcher Alicia Ortman. Crabtree's efforts would go unrewarded, as the sophomore was thrown out at the plate on a grounder by Jones, who reached safely on the play. Freshman Briana Hensley replaced Jones at first. First baseman Heidi Foster stepped up and laced a single advancing Hensley to second, who then proceed to third on an errant throw by SDSU's Vanessa Valenzuela. Southern California native Chrissy Davie then smacked an RBI single to the outfield, plating Hensley and moving Jill Paxson, who came in to pinch run for Foster, to third. Designated player Danika Nice tied the score at three in the next at bat with her grounder to the second base, scoring Paxson.
Crabtree, who went 3-for-3 in the game, gave the Boilers the lead when she started off the fifth with her solo shot to center field. The one-run cushion was all reliever Crystal Inman would need, as the senior collected her first win of the season, allowing only two hits in the final four innings while striking out six.
Against UCSB, the Boilers jumped out to a 2-0 lead in support of sophomore Nicole Crouse on RBI singles by Chrissy Davie and Skeeter Nixon in the fourth and fifth innings. UCSB scored one in the top of the sixth off Crouse, but could get no closer as freshman pitcher Leighann Burke shut the Gouchos down in relief. Designated player Danika Nice gave the Boilers an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth with her two-out RBI double to left-center to score Davie.
Crouse a native of La Palma, Calif., picked up her first win of the season, allowing only one run in five innings of work. Burke earned her first career save, pitching the final two innings without allowing a hit and striking out three, two on called third strikes. Both Davie and Nixon went 2-for-3 in the game with a RBI and a run scored.
The Invitational will continue Saturday as the Boiler take on Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo and Iowa State at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m., respectively.