March 11, 2000
TAMPA, Fla. - The Purdue softball team dropped their final game in pool play 3-1 to Illinois-Chicago at the Speedline Invitational in Tampa, Fla., Saturday morning. The Boilers fell to 2-3 in the tournament, good enough for a fourth place finish in their pool. Purdue will play Sunday at 10 a.m. in the consolation bracket against Tennessee-Chattanooga or Big Ten rival Michigan State.
"This was a tough game to lose," coach Carol Bruggeman said. "We had a very good opportunity to win this one. We hit the ball very well and hustled on every play. UIC put together one inning where they were able to beat us. We're pleased that we have an opportunity play another game on Sunday and hopefully we'll take advantage of it."
Purdue was the first team to score when Heidi Foster brought home pinch-runner Briana Hensley in the third inning with her one-out single to center. The Boilers would carry the 1-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth before the Flames would finally muster enough offense to steal the win.
Boilermaker pitcher Meagan Dooley, who had surrendered only three hits in the previous five innings, gave up back-to-back singles and a walk to the Flames to open the bottom of the sixth. Bruggeman replaced Dooley with senior Crystal Inman, who promptly struck out Gina Arnold, the flames No.3 hitter, with the bases loaded. As the next hitter, Samantha Iuli, stepped in, she watched as Inman's second offering eluded catcher Keely Povlitz's grasp for a pass ball and UIC's first run. Now with runners on second and third, Iuli lofted a fly ball to leftfield, which was deep enough to score the runner from third and give UIC a 2-1 lead. Steph Christoferson singled home the third run in the next at-bat with her grounder up-the-middle. The Boilers could not mount a comeback as they went 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh to end the game.
Dooley (3-4) took the loss for the Boilers going five innings, surrendering all three runs on five hits. She struck out two and walked one. Foster finished the game 2-for-3 with the lone Purdue RBI.