April 1, 2000
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue softball team fell 3-2 to the 13th-ranked Michigan Wolverines at the Varsity Softball Complex in West Lafayette on Saturday. The Boilermakers (20-18, 1-2 Big Ten) rallied from an early three run deficit to make it close, but came up short with a runner on second in the seventh.
"This was a great game," coach Carol Bruggeman said. "Michigan is one of the top teams in the nation and we played them very tough today. Leighann (Burke) did a fantastic job in relief and our team battled back after falling down early."
Michigan scored all three of their runs on four consecutive singles in the third off starter Nicole Crouse (4-5), who took the loss for Purdue. Bruggeman replaced Crouse with one out in the third with Leighann Burke, who struck out the next two Michigan batters to end the inning. The freshman shut down the Wolverine offense, pitching a perfect final 4.2 innings, striking out six, while walking none.
The Boilermakers rallied back on offense, scoring a run in the bottom of the fourth when Skeeter Nixon led off the inning with a grounder that found it's way past first baseman Melinda Moulden and under second baseman Kelsey Kollen's glove into right for Purdue's first hit of the game. Andrea Roush then sacrificed Nixon to second on a bunt. Shortstop Katie Crabtree stepped in and lined Michigan starter Marissa Young's offering to the opposite field for a triple, plating Nixon for Purdue's first run.
The Boilers would inch closer in the sixth when Roush reached on a one-out error by Moulden at first. The Boilermaker second baseman stole second and scored on a single by Jessica Jones to make the score 3-2.
In the seventh, Purdue had a chance to tie the game with two outs when Angi Roembke was hit by Michigan reliever Marie Barda and moved to second on a wild pitch. Designated player Crystal Inman, who had doubled earlier in the game, battled at the plate, but came up short going down on strikes.
"We gave ourselves the opportunity to win today, which is all you can really ask for," Bruggeman said. "I'm proud of the fight our team showed. We got down early, but we didn't quit. We had a chance to win this one."
The Boilermakers will conclude their two-game set against the Wolverines on Sunday at 1 p.m. at the Varsity Softball Complex.