April 28, 2001
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue softball team earned its second doubleheader split in two days today, as it fell to Ohio, 6-1, in game one, but rallied in the bottom of the seventh to beat the Bobcats 1-0 in game two. The Boilermakers improve to 32-24-1, while Ohio moves to 30-20. The first game win for the Bobcats marked the first time since 1995 that they have had a 30-win season and the second time overall.
"In the first game today, we just really didn't show up, ready to play" said Purdue head coach Carol Bruggeman. "But in the second game, I thought that the game was really well-played--on both sides of the field. Our rally in the bottom of the seventh was really great for us. I'm just very happy that Jesse (Jones) was the one who was able to get the game-winning RBI, she really needed that for herself."
In the first game, it was the Boilermakers age-old foe of errors that showed up to haunt them again today. In the top of the third inning, Purdue gave up five runs on three Bobcat hits and tallied three errors to end the inning with only one runner left on base.
The Old Gold and Black attempted a comeback several times, but the closest they would get was to score one run in the bottom of the fourth inning, when sophomore Heidi Foster singled down the left field line and was run for by freshman Nicole Austin. Austin advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman catcher Sara Hall and then scored from second when sophomore Jesse Jones doubled.
On the mound in the first game, junior Meagan Dooley took the loss to fall to 11-8. She pitched 2.1 innings and gave up five hits and five runs.
Sophomore Leighann Burke finished out the game with 4.2 innings pitched and tallied three strikeouts en route to allowing only one hit and one run.
In the second game, the defense of both Purdue and Ohio came through very strong, keeping the game at a 0-0 deadlock until the bottom of the seventh inning. The Boilermakers had had several chances to score, leaving 10 runners on base during the course of the game, but they finally broke through with the bases loaded and one out.
The first Purdue batter to the plate was sophomore Laura Martin who pinch hit for senior catcher Keely Povlitz. Martin wasn't able to get on base, despite fouling off several very hard-hit balls to the third base side of the line and finally put a dribbling grounder to the pitcher in play for the out at first base.
Then freshman Holly Streed came through in the clutch and singled down the left field line for Purdue's first base runner. Junior shortstop Katie Crabtree followed Streed's hit up with a double, again down the left field line for runners at second and third and one out with sophomore outfielder Andrea Roush at the plate.
Roush was intentionally walked by the Bobcats because she had been dangerous earlier in the day, but that just set the Boilermakers up for even more exciting pressure.
Jones, one of Purdue's most dangerous batters, stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and still only the one out. She ripped it down the left field line for the game-winning RBI as Roush moved to second, Crabtree to third and Streed crossed the plate.
The game ended with one out and three runners left on base, but Purdue didn't need the extra at-bats, as it was happy with the 1-0 win.
On the mound in the second game, junior Nicole Crouse pitched her seventh complete game and fourth shutout of the season to improve to 10-5. She improves her ERA to 2.15 and tallied two strikeouts, while allowing one walk and two hits.
"After today, we're looking forward to having the week off for finals and are excited to prepare for IU," said Bruggeman.
The Boilermakers will take the week off and resume play with the final home game of the year on Saturday, May 5, against Indiana. Game time is set for 2 p.m. for the single game and both seniors and parents will be honored.
-P-