March 2, 2002
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The Purdue softball team fell twice today, despite a great effort, to the No. 1-ranked UCLA Bruins in the Stacy Winsberg Memorial Tournament, sponsored by Easton and hosted by UCLA. The Boilermakers fell 4-2 in the first game and 3-0 in the second game. They fall to 9-6 on the year, while the Bruins improve to 22-2.
"I was very proud of the way our team competed today against the No. 1-ranked team in the country," said Purdue head coach Carol Bruggeman. "We stayed right there with them (UCLA) the whole time and even had good chances to win. But, we really look forward to bouncing back to play Texas A&M - Corpus Christi tomorrow."
In the first game, UCLA started the game out strong, loading the bases with only one out in the first inning. The Boilermakers were able to hold onto their defense, allowing only one run on a wild pitch before ending the inning.
In the top of the fourth inning, senior shortstop Katie Crabtree went long as the lead-off batter of the inning for her fifth home run of the year to tie it up.
The Bruins gave themselves plenty of chances, but the Boilermakers continued to come through with solid defense, including a foiled squeeze play at the plate by sophomore catcher Sara Hall. However, UCLA was able to put the game away in the top of the fifth inning when they tallied a double and a single that bounced off the fence for three runs.
On the mound in the first game, senior Nicole Crouse made the start and took the loss, dropping her record to 2-2 on the year. She tallied 4.1 innings, allowed six hits, four runs and four walks while facing 23 batters.
Senior Meagan Dooley came in for the relief effort and saw 1.2 innings and allowed only one hit. She faced six batters.
In the second game, UCLA came out and scored in the first inning, but Purdue held them to one run on three hits. Then, in the second inning, the Bruins were on a run again with runners on second and third with only one out. But junior lefty Leighann Burke was able to force UCLA's Ramos to line into a double play to end the inning with no runs scored.
Burke held on until the sixth inning, when she gave up a walk followed by a double and was replaced by Dooley. Dooley continued her day on the mound with a good relief effort and was able to hold the Bruins to only one more run in the seventh inning on a sacrifice fly.
For her day, Burke saw 5.0 innings of action, gave up seven hits, two runs, one walk and struck out one. She faced 22 batters total and drops to 5-3 on the year. In the relief effort of the second game, Dooley hurled 2.0 innings, allowed one hit, one run and walked one, while facing eight batters.
The Boilermakers will return to the field tomorrow at 9 a.m. PST when they take on Texas A&M - Corpus Christi in the final doubleheader of the weekend.
-P-