Feb. 8, 2002
ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - The Boilermaker softball team fell to the Georgia Bulldogs today, 3-2, in their season-opener. The Dogs improve to 6-0. Then, in Purdue's second game, they shutout the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats, 3-0. The Boilermakers end their first day of competition with a record of 1-1.
"Overall, today was not bad for the first day of the season," said Purdue head coach Carol Bruggeman. "In the first game, you could definitely see that we had some first-game jitters on defense, but I thought that we still competed hard."
Against Georgia, the women of the Old Gold and Black started with two walks in the first inning, but couldn't put any runs on the board until the top of the third inning when both senior Katie Crabtree and junior Heidi Foster smashed solo homeruns to put the Boilermakers up, 2-1. Crabtree's hit was a long, straightaway bomb over centerfield, while Foster's went to right centerfield and skimmed off the top of the fence.
Before that however, Georgia took the lead first in the bottom of the second with a walk, an advance to third on a wild pitch and a double steal. Purdue retook control and finished out the inning, allowing just one run.
Georgia came back to tie it up again in the bottom of the third, with runners on first and second that both stole on a wild pitch. The Dogs then scored as the runner on third advanced on an erred throw to third by Purdue catcher Jesse Jones.
The Boilermakers attempted a comeback, but couldn't seem to get runners on base when needed. The score stayed at a deadlock until the bottom of the sixth when Georgia was able to get runners on base from an error by Purdue shortstop Crabtree and a run-down at third that didn't result in an out. The Bulldogs went up, 3-2.
Purdue had one last chance to take the win or send it to extra innings, but despite freshman Shelli Messer's single as the second batter, she was put into a double play when senior Chrissy Davie hit a line drive to the shortstop to end the game.
At the plate, Foster went 1-1 with her first homerun of the year and was walked twice. Crabtree went 1 for 2 with her homerun and was walked once.
On the mound for Purdue, junior Leighann Burke started her first game of the year, but went down with an 0-1 record. Burke completed the game with 6.0 innings and struck out five. She walked three and allowed five hits. Only one of the runs she allowed was earned, however.
"In the second game, I was very pleased with the way we bounced back to get the shutout. Nicole Crouse had total command of the game," said Bruggeman.
In the second game, the Boilermakers shutout the Wildcats with a 3-0 score, for the first shutout of the year. For both Purdue and BCC, the game started out slowly in the first inning, with no scores and only one hit in one and a half innings.
Things changed for the Old Gold and Black again, however, when Foster decided to take it deep again in the bottom of the second for her second solo smash of the day. That would be the only run of the inning, despite designated player Laura Martin's single to the pitcher that she was able to beat out on the throw.
Starting off the third inning, Davie hit a single to right field and then advanced to second on a sacrifice fly by Crabtree. Purdue couldn't get Davie home for that second run, however, and the Boilermakers had to wait until the fifth inning for their next two runs.
After two fly balls and two outs, Crabtree knocked her second solo homerun of both the day and season. This was the second season in a row that Crabtree was able to hit a homerun in the season-opening weekend. Last year, she broke the Purdue career homerun record with her first smash of the year.
Behind Crabtree, junior centerfielder Andrea Roush singled with a bunt and a beat throw before stealing second and advancing to third on a passed ball.
Jones then came to the plate and hit a deep fly ball to centerfield for what almost was another Purdue homerun, but stayed short for a double. Roush crossed the plate on Jones' double. Jones was then thrown out at home on a fielder's choice play that came from Foster at the plate.
Purdue continued to hold BCC and ended the game with both the victory and the shutout.
On the mound, senior Nicole Crouse took her first win of the year with a game that produced five strikeouts and two walks, while allowing only three hits.
"Adding to the day, both Heidi's (Foster) and Katie's (Crabtree) offensive power was a great force. For them to hit two homeruns apiece, and four as a team, in the first day of the season is phenomenal. Hopefully, that's a good indicator of the type of year they're both going to have," said Bruggeman.
The Boilermakers will return to the field on Saturday, Feb. 9, when the Triple Crown Invitational continues. Purdue will play Mississippi at 11:0 a.m. and Florida A&M at 7 p.m.
-P-