April 28, 2000
Madison, Wis. - The Purdue softball team lost both games of its doubleheader against Wisconsin at the Goodman Softball Complex in Madison, Wis., Friday afternoon. The Boilermakers (31-24, 4-8 Big Ten) fell 1-0 and 5-4 to the Badgers.
"Two disappointing loses" coach Carol Bruggeman said. "Meagan carried us in the first game, she took control and we kept waiting for the offense to come on. We left too many runners in scoring position in the first game and didn't take care of the opportunities. We showed heart in the second game, coming back and battling through the delays, and to fall short is tough. We need to push forward and get the job done at Minnesota."
The Boilers battled back from an early four run deficit, getting home run contributions from Heidi Foster, a two run shot, and Katie Crabtree, a solo blast, and an RBI single from Keely Povlitz to even the score, but fell short, surrendering the go-ahead run in the seventh.
Nicole Crouse (5-6) picked up the loss in relief of starter Leighann Burke. The game suffered two weather related delays, one for 20 minutes and another for an hour-and-a-half.
The Boilermakers offense wasted an outstanding pitching performance by sophomore Meagan Dooley in the first game of the twin bill. The right-hander tossed eight hitless innings before surrendering two singles in the ninth. Absorbing the loss, Dooley fell to 11-8 on the season. She struck out two over 8.1 innings, inducing 19 hitters to ground out.
Purdue squandered scoring opportunities in the top of the second and ninth innings. In both cases the Boilermakers had a runner on second with no outs and failed to score.
Wisconsin broke through in the ninth when Kerry Hagen broke up Dooley's no-hitter with a single to right to lead off the inning. She advanced to second on a sac bunt and error by Povlitz. With runners on first and second and no outs, Teresa Mendez sacrificed the duo over with a bunt to third. Wisconsin's no. 3 hitter Chrissy Swartout ended the game in the next at-bat with a single to left.
Jessica Jones and Katie Crabtree each finished the game 2-for-4.
The Boilermakers will travel to Minneapolis to take on Minnesota in a single games tomorrow and Sunday.