March 24, 2001
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue softball team opened its first day of the Boilermaker Invitational with two wins over Loyola (Chicago) (3-0) and Butler (4-1) to improve its season mark to 22-8-1. The Boilermaker Invitational consists of six teams - Purdue, Loyola (Chicago), Butler, Michigan, Minnesota and Toledo.
In their first game of the day against Loyola (Chicago), the Boilermakers' sophomore first baseman, Heidi Foster, picked up another home run, for her second of the year and her second in three games. Foster nailed the deep shot to center field in the top of the sixth, coming up big for the Old Gold and Black with the two-run hit, putting Purdue with a commanding lead at 3-0. Foster went 2-3 in the first game along with two RBI.
"Foster and (Sara) Hall made tremendous plays with their RBI," said Purdue head coach Carol Bruggeman. "Both pitchers also were great. Without Lynne Tortorelli, the rest of the team picked it up in her absence and I was very pleased."
Freshman designated player Sara Hall also was big at the plate, going 1-2 with one RBI after a sacrifice fly in the top of the fourth inning that scored junior Chrissy Davie. Davie pinch ran for Foster, after a single to the shortstop and an advance to second on the throw.
On the mound for Purdue, junior Meagan Dooley took the win over the Ramblers to improve to 6-2 on the season with 4.0 innings pitched. She allowed four hits, no runs and walked no one, while striking out two.
Sophomore Leighann Burke came in for the save, her third of the year, and allowed one hit in 2.0 innings pitched. She also struck out two, allowed no runs and walked no one.
The second game of the day for Purdue also produced a win, despite the lack of warmth in the air. The Boilermakers tallied 10 hits and four RBI en route to their victory over the Butler Bulldogs.
This time at the plate it was sophomore third baseman Jesse Jones who produced for the Old Gold and Black, going 3-3 with a run and an RBI. Jones hit a double to center field to put herself into scoring position and then scored as Hall singled to right field for the RBI.
Junior Laura Martin also did well at the plate, going 1-1 with a hard-hit double up the middle in the sixth for an RBI as freshman Angela Knight rounded third and was safe at home.
"This second game today was the finest offensive output of the season," said Bruggeman. "Everyone played, showing that we are a deep team from the top to the bottom. Again, our pitching and defense were both strong and not affected by the cold."
Burke took the mound to start for the Old Gold and Black and also took the win, improving her record to 8-4 on the year. She pitched 5.0 innings, allowed two hits, one run and struck out six.
Junior Nicole Crouse came in to finish off the game for the Boilermakers with 2.0 innings pitched. She allowed one hit and stuck out three while allowing no runs and no walks.
The Boilermaker Invitational will continue and Purdue will return to action Sunday morning at 11 a.m. as they face Toledo at the Varsity Softball Complex. They will then receive their seed for the bracket portion of the tournament and will either play at 1 or 3 p.m.
In other action at the Boilermaker Invitational, No. 24 Michigan defeated both Butler (7-3) and Toledo (11-5) to improve to 11-9 on the season. The Bulldogs fall to 10-9 on their year.
Minnesota defeated Loyola (Chicago) 4-3 and Toledo 8-0 to improve to 17-9-1. Toledo falls to 10-7.
-P-