April 6, 2002
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue softball team fell today, 7-4, in the second game of the series to Northwestern at the Varsity Softball Complex. The Boilermakers drop to 27-13 (0-4 Big Ten) on the year, while the Wildcats improve to 13-8-1 (4-0 Big Ten).
"Today we did make a nice comeback, but it was too little, too late," said Purdue head coach Carol Bruggeman. "I'm very proud of Meagan Dooley today. She pitched well and was very effective, especially in her first outing back from her injury.
"This team has got to start playing better defense. Our defense has been our strength all year long and in the past week and a half, during the Big Ten season, we've made probably more errors than we had all pre-season. In order to be successful in the Conference, we've got to cut down on the fielding and mental errors."
Like their first game against the Wildcats, the Boilermakers had to start digging their way out of a fairly large hole early in the game. Northwestern, batting as the home team, got four runs on three hits and three Purdue errors in the first inning.
Then, in the second inning, they added to their 4-0 lead with two more runs on two hits and one Boilermaker error. With a double down the left field line, a steal to get to third, an error to put another runner at first and a steal that put her at second, a single up the middle scored two, both of which were unearned for Purdue's Leighann Burke.
In the top of the third inning, freshman third baseman Shelli Messer started things off with a single down the left field line and sophomore rightfielder Angela Knight reached on a fielder's choice that had no play, putting Messer at second. Freshman second baseman Andrea Hillsey also reached on a fielder's choice, Knight went to second, but Messer took the force out at third. Two more outs would follow and Purdue was unable to convert with two runners left on base.
Northwestern gathered their final run of the day in the fifth inning. A walk and a fielder's choice put a runner at first before a double by Robyn Pettinger would score that runner at first. Pettinger tried to stretch that double into a triple but was tagged out on a throw from catcher Jesse Jones to Messer at third.
Purdue broke out for three runs in the top of the sixth inning. The drive was started when junior centerfielder Andrea Roush walked, senior shortstop Katie Crabtree singled up the middle, advancing Roush to second and junior first baseman Heidi Foster singled up the middle again, advancing both Roush and Crabtree. Jones was next with a double that scored both Roush and Crabtree and put Foster at third.
Freshman Katie Absher came in to pinch run for Jones on second, just before the Wildcats made a pitching change. A close ground out to the second baseman for junior Angi Roembke brought Laura Martin, the junior designated player, to the plate for a sacrifice fly to deep left field, scoring Foster. One more ground out at second finished out the inning, leaving the runner at second, but Purdue was on its way to a comeback.
In the top of the seventh, the Boilermakers were back at it and added one more run to their total when Hillsey was hit by a pitch and scored when Crabtree doubled to centerfield.
The Boilermakers will return to the field tomorrow when they take on the Iowa Hawkeyes at noon for a doubleheader at the Varsity Softball Complex. The game, as are all Purdue Big Ten home contests, will be broadcast on 1410 WAZY-AM and www.purduesports.com. Tom Schott will call the action for the Boilermakers with player and coach interviews and possible guest appearances.
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