April 13, 2001
SOFTBALL SPLITS WITH PENN STATE IN FIRST DAY OF WEEKEND PLAY
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue softball team split today with the Penn State Nittany Lions, beating PSU 5-4 in 10 innings in the first game, and falling 8-0 in the second game. The Boilermakers stand at 27-16-1 (4-6 Big Ten) while Penn State goes to 24-16 (4-4 Big Ten).
"We are still struggling to find consistency," said Purdue head coach Carol Bruggeman. "It's really tough to get down in the first inning and then have to come back from that. I think that we all believed that we could win that first game and we really fought hard to get it. It was a great team win and an excellent game all around. The second game, Penn State beat us soundly and they deserved the win."
In the first game, the Boilermakers found themselves down 3-0 after the top of the first inning, but knew that they would have to fight back.
They held the Nittany Lions in the top of the second and then scored one run in the bottom of the second as sophomore Heidi Foster singled to center field. Sophomore Briana Hensley pinch ran for Foster and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by sophomore outfielder Andrea Roush and advanced to third on a 4-3 ground out by freshman designated player Sara Hall. Sophomore outfielder Angi Roembke tapped an infield single by beating out the throw to first and notched the RBI as Hensley crossed the plate for a score of 1-3.
Roembke stole second base, but would be left on as senior catcher Keely Povlitz flied out to center field. The Boilermakers ended the inning with one run on two hits and left one runner on base.
Penn State knew that Purdue was on a comeback and needed to extend its lead with a run in the top of the third inning. They did score one, as Megan Humphrey scored on Barbie Pierce's single up the middle, after reaching base on a walk. That would be the Nittany Lions' only run as the Boilermakers shut them down, despite tallying a catcher's interference error, allowing a runner on base.
The Old Gold and Black and the Blue and White would stay knotted at 4-1 until the bottom of the fifth inning, when Roembke reached first again on a bunt single and advanced to second on Povlitz's sac bunt.
Sophomore Laura Martin pinch hit for freshman second baseman Holly Streed and grounded out to third, but Roembke continued on her path and advanced to third. Then, for her second hit of the day, junior shortstop Katie Crabtree singled to right field to score Roembke. Crabtree then would be called out at second on a steal attempt to end the inning, as Purdue gathered one run on two hits to make the score 2-4.
The Boilermakers held PSU again in the top of the sixth inning but started the bats swinging as sophomore third baseman Jesse Jones smacked a deep home run over the left centerfield wall to take the score to 3-4 with one out.
Foster stepped to the plate and singled again, this time to left field, and then was out at second on a fielder's choice as Roush was up to bat. The inning would end as Hall grounded into a 5-3 play, giving Purdue one run on two hits. The Boilermakers weren't out of it just yet.
In the top of the seventh, Penn State couldn't convert, allowing the Old Gold and Black's defense to record three outs in four batters.
The Purdue comeback continued as Nittany Lion pitcher Kelly McCann committed a fielding error to allow Roembke to reach first on a slapped tap. Povlitz committed another sacrifice bunt to advance Roembke, as she went to second.
Then, in her first at-bat since breaking her hand in Texas in the early season, junior Chrissy Davie pinch hit for Streed and was walked. Freshman Nicole Austin went to first to pinch run for Davie, and that was enough for Penn State's McCann, as she was replaced by Marisa Hanson.
Crabtree came around to bat again and nailed a shot down the left field line and advanced to second on the throw home, in an attempt to hold Austin at third, after Roembke scored, tying the game at 4-4 with no outs.
That was it for Purdue in the seventh, though, as senior center fielder Lynne Tortorelli struck out swinging, Jones was walked and Foster struck out swinging.
And into extra innings it went, as Purdue hoped it could bring home the first extra innings win of the year, against a huge conference rival.
Both teams were three-up, three-down in the eighth inning and it remained scoreless in the ninth, despite one run and one runner left on by both teams.
In the top of the tenth, Purdue was able to get out of the inning with the bases loaded after a walk, a single and an advance on the throw, and a fielder's choice to take the out at home, followed by another walk.
Purdue's opportunity finally came in the bottom of the tenth inning as Foster singled up the middle, followed by Roush with a bunt, single. Hall followed up with a looking strike out, for the second of the inning.
Then with runners at first and second and two outs, Roembke singled to the shortstop, as Roush advanced to second and then took off to third on a miffed throw by the shortstop, allowing Foster to advance to third on the hit and then go home on the error.
Purdue wrapped it up with one run and three hits in the bottom of the tenth for its first extra innings victory of the season.
On the mound for Purdue, sophomore Leighann Burke made the start and went 5.2 innings, allowing eight hits, four runs and three walks, while striking out four. Burke takes a no-decision away from the day.
Junior Nicole Crouse took the win for Purdue, improving to 9-3, after coming in in relief. She pitched 4.1 innings, allowing three hits and no runs. Crouse walked three and struck out one.
In the second game, the Boilermakers struggled to find consistency and fell 8-0 in four and a half innings, due to a run rule.
Junior Meagan Dooley made the start and took the loss for the second game, falling to 8-6 on the season. She pitched 1.2 innings, allowed seven hits, six runs, and struck out two.
Crouse made the relief appearance, again, for 2.1 innings and allowed three hits and two runs, while tallying no strikeouts.
Crabtree finished her day well, going 6-7 with two RBI, including a 2-2 hit performance in the second game.
"We'll just look to get back on track tomorrow," Bruggeman said. "We really need to get a win against Ohio State and find our team consistency."
The Boilermakers will return to the field tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the Varsity Softball Complex, as they face the Ohio State Buckeyes in single-game conference action. Purdue will play the second game against OSU on Easter Sunday at 1 p.m.
-P-