March 17, 2000
TAMPA, Fla. - The Purdue softball went to extra innings twice at the USF-Clearwater Invitational on Friday and came away 2-1 and 4-3 winners. The Boilers, 13-12 for the season, downed Canisus and host South Florida to finish 3-1 in pool play, good enough for a three-way tie. By virtue of the tie-breakers Purdue will earn the No. 3 seed and take on Tennessee Tech at noon on Saturday in single-elimination bracket play.
"I'm very proud of the way our team played today," coach Carol Bruggeman said. "We came out with intensity and desire. Our attitude was that we just weren't going to lose either one of these games. Our pitching and defense kept us in the game, giving our offense opportunities to win. The team showed a lot of heart."
Against Canisus, the Boilers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when senior Skeeter Nixon, who singled to left to lead off the inning, scored from second on sophomore Katie Crabtree's double. Starter Meagan Dooley and the defense carried the lead to the sixth before the Golden Knights were able to knot the score at 1-1.
With neither team able to end the game in the seventh, the game went to the eighth and the international tie-breaker. Starting with a runner on second, Canisus was unable to score off sophomore reliever Nicole Crouse, leaving the door open for Purdue.
Freshman Angi Roembke, who started the inning at second, advanced to third when Canisus' second baseman mishandled Nixon's ground ball. With runners on the corners and no outs, redshirt freshman Andrea Roush ended the game with her fly ball to right, that scored a tagging Roembke from third.
The Boilers scored the two runs off six hits, with Nixon leading the way going 2-for-4. Crouse picked up the win, bringing her record to 3-3 on the season. Dooley went six innings, giving up the one run unearned. She struck out two and walked one.
Against host USF, the Boilers would jump out to an early lead in the top of the first when Nixon drew a walk to lead off the game. After a bunt single by Roush, Crabtree shot a grounder down the firstbase line for a ground rule double, scoring Nixon from second.
Starter Crystal Inman, fresh off her 11 strikeout performance on Thursday, went the first four innings without surrendering a hit, while walking two. The Bulls tied the score in the fifth with three consecutive singles to lead off the inning.
The game remained tied until the seventh, when freshman Jesse Jones led off the top of the inning with a single and was replaced by pinch runner Briana Hensley. Hensley advanced to second on a sac-bunt by Chrissy Davie and to third on a USF pass ball. Inman then helped her own cause with a sac-fly to center, scoring Hensley from third.
The Bulls would not go quietly, scoring a run in the bottom of the inning to send the Boilers to their second extra-inning contest of the day. Once again using the international tie-breaker, Purdue was unable to score in the top of the eighth, forcing the defense to stop USF.
After a sac bunt that moved the Bulls one base from victory in the bottom of the inning, Inman gave way to freshman Leighann Burke. Burke induced Andi Michaels to pop out to Roush at second for the second out and struck out designated player Jamie Peterka to end the inning and the USF threat.
In the top of the ninth, with Roush starting on second, the Boilers quickly surrendered two quick outs. Freshman Jesse Jones then lined a double to left to plate Roush to give Purdue a 3-2 lead. Chrissy Davie then provided what would prove to be a much needed insurance run with her RBI single to right, scoring Jones.
Down once again, USF would not go quietly. Bruke struck out the first batter she faced before allowing an infield single. With runners on the corners and one out, the Bulls got within one with a shot down the third base line that was handled by Jones, who's only option was to a stretching Heidi Foster at first. Now with two outs and the tying run at third, Burke left nothing to chance striking out USF's Misty Spencer to end the game and seal Purdue's win.
Purdue finished with six hits, with Roush and Jones both 2-for-4. Burke, 4-4 for the season, picked up the win with her 1.2 innings pitched. Both pitchers collected two strikeouts.