April 3, 2001
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue softball team fell twice today to Notre Dame in its 2 p.m. doubleheader. The Boilermakers fall to 25-12-1, while the Fighting Irish improve to 28-3. Purdue fell in the first game 10-2 in six innings and 4-2 in eight innings for the second game.
"I just thought that the first game was ugly," said Purdue head coach Carol Bruggeman. "We couldn't get anything right and they capitalized on everything. In the second game, we bounced back and Meagan (Dooley) pitched well against one of the best hitting teams in the country, but it was still frustrating. We had every opportunity to win that game but we didn't. We have got to start getting our hits when we have our runners in scoring position. That's what will make the difference for the rest of the season."
Things fell apart for Purdue in the first game in the third inning when the Irish scored four runs on five hits and left no one on base, despite a Boilermaker pitching change. After two and a half innings, Notre Dame led 5-0.
The Old Gold and Black fought back and scored a run in bottom of the fourth as junior shortstop Katie Crabtree walked and then scored from first on a double by sophomore first baseman Heidi Foster.
The Irish answered the Boilermakers' hit and run with three more runs on three hits in the top of the fifth inning. The Old Gold and Black also committed one error as the Blue and Gold left two base runners in the field on the third out, a close play at the plate.
They answered again in the top of the sixth inning, after shutting Purdue down with three-up, three-down in the bottom of the fifth, with two more runs on two hits and two Purdue errors.
The Boilermakers were able to pull out of the inning with three Irish runners left on base, but not before the Irish led, 10-1.
The Old Gold and Black made a brief comeback in the bottom of the sixth inning, scoring one after senior outfielder Lynne Tortorelli laid down a bunt and beat it out at first, Crabtree was hit by a pitch, and Foster singled to score Tortorelli from second.
On the mound for Purdue, junior Nicole Crouse started and finished the game, pitching 3.0 innings. She allowed six hits, five runs, four walks and had no strike outs. She fell to 8-3 on the year.
Sophomore Leighann Burke came in on relief and also pitched 3.0 innings. She allowed 8 hits, five runs, two walks and had no strike outs.
The second game went better for Purdue, but the Boilermakers were still unable to get the job done, even in extra innings. The Irish tallied six hits while leaving five runners on base, compared to Purdue's 10 hits and 12 runners left on base.
In the top of the second inning, Purdue was able to hold Notre Dame to one run, with a great play at the plate on a fielder's choice as sophomore third baseman Jesse Jones tossed it home to freshman Sara Hall for the tag.
The bottom half of the inning brought Purdue a 2-1 lead as sophomore outfielder Angi Roembke singled to center field and sophomore designated player Laura Martin reached on a fielder's choice, advancing Roembke to second. Sophomore Jill Paxson came in to pinch run for Martin and advanced to second as sophomore outfielder Andrea Roush singled to left field that also advanced Roembke to third.
Crabtree was then walked for her easiest RBI of the season, as Roembke scored to tie it at 1-1. Purdue then scored its second run as Tortorelli singled to the pitcher and beat out the throw to score Paxson, as they all moved around the bases.
Notre Dame tied the game up in the top of the fourth as they moved a runner who had been walked around for the score. But it would stay tied through seven, resulting in the needed extra inning.
The Irish won the game in the top of the eighth, as they were able to pull out a double with two runners on, who both scored.
The Boilermakers will return to action this weekend, as they head to Michigan for Big Ten games against the Michigan Wolverines on Friday with a doubleheader at 2 p.m. EST, and Michigan State on Saturday at 2 p.m. EST and Sunday at 1 p.m. EST.
-P-