March 1, 2002
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The Purdue softball team finished its first day of the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament, sponsored by Easton and hosted by UCLA, today with two wins over Florida. The Boilermakers defeated the Gators 2-1 in the first game and 13-5 with a run-ruled six innings in the second game.
"Today was just an outstanding day for us," said Purdue head coach Carol Bruggeman. "The first game was a tight game and it was well-played by both teams, but we hung on for the win. In the second game, our bats just exploded. We had 16 hits and 13 runs and it was just a very positive day all-around. We're looking forward to playing again tomorrow against UCLA."
The Boilermakers started their day on an average note, with not much offensive action until the fifth inning, when both teams came alive for a scoring drive. Scoring for the Old Gold and Black started with a single by junior Laura Martin. Freshman Katie Absher came in to pinch run for Martin and was then advanced to second when freshman Andrea Hillsey singled to left field. Both Hillsey and Absher advanced on a wild pitch with freshman Shelli Messer at the plate and a pitching change by the Gators.
Messer also singled to left field and drove Absher in, while Hillsey went on to third. A passed ball by Florida put Hillsey across the plate and Messer on second for the second run of the inning. The Boilermakers would advance Messer to third on a ground out play, but left her on base after recording the two runs and three hits of the inning.
Junior pitcher Leighann Burke's first outing of the day ended in the bottom of the fifth inning after a walk and a single by the first two Florida batters when senior Nicole Crouse came in for her second save of the season.
Despite a score by the Gators' pitcher Schuerman on a passed ball, Crouse was able to force a fly out, a strike out looking and a ground out to get out of the inning and hold on to wrap it up for the Boilermakers in seven innings.
Burke wrapped up her start with five hits, one run, three walks and three strikeouts for her first win of the day, extending her record to 4-2. Crouse recorded two hits on no runs with one walk and two strikeouts.
In the second game, the Boilermakers' bats and base running came alive as Purdue run-ruled the Gators in six innings, 13-5. The Boilermakers' only lineup change was the pitching and behind the plate connection, as sophomore Sara Hall went in to catch and senior Meagan Dooley took the mound.
Dooley had a rough day, as she gave up three doubles, back-to-back and another base hit in only 1.2 innings, with the Gators going up 3-0 on the Boilermakers. Burke returned to the mound with two outs for the relief and forced a line-out to wrap up the inning after Florida tallied three runs on four hits with one Purdue error, while causing one runner left on base.
But the Old Gold and Black didn't give up, countering with three runs of their own in the bottom of the second. The inning began with Messer hitting up the middle for a single, junior Angi Roembke reaching on an error by the first baseman, and Hall hitting a single to score Messer and put Roembke at third.
Freshman Courtney Kovanis pinch ran for Hall and advanced to second when Angela Knight reached first on a failed fielder's choice attempt to pick Roembke off at third. Hillsey hit a single to left field that put Knight at second, Kovanis at third and scored Roembke just before junior Andrea Roush reached on a fielder's choice that advanced Knight to third, Hillsey to second and scored Kovanis.
The Purdue scoring drive ended when Knight was called out in a play at the plate as she attempted to score on a loose ball behind the catcher.
The Boilermakers scored three more in the third inning, two more in the fourth, two more in the fifth and three more in the sixth to end the game in dramatic fashion.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, the Gators' Schuerman came back in for her relief debut. But she couldn't control the Boilermakers, as Hall tallied another single, Knight drew the walk, Hillsey singled, Roush singled and senior shortstop Katie Crabtree doubled to earn two RBI. The inning produced three runs, four hits and left two on base in a walk-off for the Old Gold and Black.
The Boilermakers will return to the diamond tomorrow when they face their toughest opponent of the weekend, the No. 1-nationally ranked UCLA Bruins. Purdue will play another doubleheader against the Bruins and game time is set for 1:30 p.m. PST.
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