April 8, 2001
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Purdue softball team was defeated by the Michigan State Spartans today, 8-3, in the second game of the Big Ten series. The Boilermakers fall to 26-15-1 (3-5 Big Ten) while the Spartans improve/fall to 15-26 (2-4 Big Ten).
"This team is on a roller coaster ride," said Purdue head coach Carol Bruggeman. "We play great one minute and then we're struggling the next. We just have to find a way to get off that ride and be consistant."
The Boilermakers started their game quickly, allowing only four Spartan batters before the first three outs. In the bottom of the second inning Purdue started its rally to score some runs.
Leading off the inning was sophomore Andrea Roush, called out with a close play at first. Freshman designated player Sara Hall stepped to the plate and fouled off a couple of great balls, but was eventually walked. Junior Chrissy Davie came in to run for Hall as sophomore outfielder Angi Roembke tapped a base hit to advance Davie to second.
After senior catcher Keely Povlitz struck out, Purdue continued the rally with two outs as freshman second baseman Holly Streed smacked a single just over the third baseman's head to tally two RBI as Roembke scored from second, beating the throw home, and Davie scored from third.
After Streed singled and advanced to second on the throw, junior shortstop Katie Crabtree stepped to the plate and was intentionally walked. But the MSU pitcher slipped with a wild pitch and Crabtree and Streed both advanced. That would be the end of the inning for Purdue, as it left both runners on base.
The Boilermakers came back again in the bottom of the third to score another run, putting Purdue ahead 3-0. The Old Gold and Black, again, rallied in with two outs to score Roush after she singled to left, stole second, and advance to third on a wild pitch. Roembke tallied the RBI with a single to third and beat the throw to first.
Michigan State would not give up and rallied to tie the score at 2-2 in the top of the fourth inning with four hits, while also leaving two on base.
After holding the Boilermakers scoreless in the bottom of the fourth, MSU came back and tallied four runs on four hits, while Purdue committed four errors. Then in the sixth inning, the Spartans tallied two more runs on three hits and one more Purdue error.
The Old Gold and Black continued to fight, but nothing would go their way, ending the day with seven hits and 11 runners left on base. Michigan State ended its day with 13 hits, one error and 11 runners left on base.
Purdue returns to action when it continues the Big Ten season on Friday, April 14, at 2 p.m. with a doubleheader against Penn State. The Boilermakers will finish the weekend with single games on Saturday and Sunday, April 14 and 15, at 2 p.m. and 1 p.m., respectively, against Ohio State.
-P-