April 7, 2002
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue softball team dropped two more games today, 3-2 (8 innings) and 2-1, in doubleheader action against the 19th-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes. The Boilermakers fall to 27-15 (0-6 Big Ten) on the year, while the Hawkeyes improved their record to 23-12 (6-0 Big Ten).
"This weekend was a very disappointing weekend for us," said Purdue head coach Carol Bruggeman. "We fought hard today and unfortunately, a lot of little mistakes hit us hard - an error here, a walk there, a stolen base, etceteras. We just weren't sharp, but we were still within one run of beating Iowa twice today.
"The good news is that we still haven't played our best this conference season. We'll just keep working to get our confidence back and play to our potential. I thought that Nicole Crouse pitched one of the best games she's pitched all year and it's too bad we couldn't have had a better result with the opportunity to win for her."
The Boilermakers fell behind in the first game, 2-0, when the Hawkeyes were able to put two runs across the plate when Alicia Gerlach doubled to left centerfield and Christina Schmaltz singled up the middle, for one RBI apiece. The Boilermakers avoided another Iowa run crossing the plate when Liz Dennis was thrown out at home on an 8-2 play, as junior centerfielder Andrea Roush and junior catcher Jesse Jones made the connection.
The Boilermakers fought back in the bottom of the fifth, when they were able to load the bases with no outs, thanks to a single through the left side by Roush, a hit batter in junior designated player Laura Martin and a bunt single by freshman Shelli Messer. However, it wasn't to be for the Boilermakers, as they left the bases loaded with three consecutive outs following the offensive surge.
Purdue was finally able to tie it up in the bottom of the sixth inning, when senior shortstop Katie Crabtree was walked, stole second and went home as Roush doubled to left center field for the RBI. Then, Martin followed that up with another double, this time to right field for the RBI as Roush crossed the plate. The Old Gold and Black weren't able to get Martin across, however, and the game went into extra innings.
The Hawkeyes finally ended the pitching dual between Purdue senior Nicole Crouse and Iowa senior Kristi Hanks, in the top of the eighth inning when Gerlach was walked, leftfielder Liz Dennis singled through the left side, and catcher Jessica Bashor reached on a fielder's choice, sending Gerlach home.
On the mound for Purdue, Crouse pitched the eight-inning complete game, allowing six hits and three runs on 31 batters. She struck out six and walked two to fall to 9-5 on the season.
In the second game, the Boilermakers fell behind even quicker than they had in the first game. But thanks to defense, they allowed only one Hawkeye run in the bottom of the first inning. Laura Chipman eventually found her way around the base path, entering the game for Dennis, when Bashor singled and advanced around the bases courtesy of a Purdue error.
Purdue tied it up in the top of the fourth inning when Crabtree reached first on a throwing error by the Iowa third baseman and moved on to second on a junior first baseman Heidi Foster single through the left side. The Hawkeyes had a pitching change, but Purdue continued to rally as Crabtree went to third, even though Martin hit into a double play at second and first.
Then, thanks to an Angi Roembke bunt single, Crabtree scored the unearned run. Roembke went on to be caught stealing at second to end the inning before the Old Gold and Black could get her across the plate.
Iowa ended the second game when Gerlach hit her fourth home run of the year, a solo shot over the center field 220 feet sign, in the bottom of the fifth inning, making her the winning run for the Hawkeyes twice on Sunday.
On the mound for Purdue in the second game, senior Meagan Dooley made the start, her first after her injury at Wisconsin. She went 3.1 innings, allowed five hits, one run and struck out two. She faced 13 batters.
In relief and taking the loss for Purdue, junior Leighann Burke made her 25th appearance and fell to 11-7 on the year. She pitched 2.2 innings and allowed four hits, one run and two walks, while striking out one. She also faced 13 batters.
The Boilermakers will return to the field on Tuesday, when they host the Ball State Cardinals at the Varsity Softball Complex, beginning at 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on 1410 WAZY-AM and on www.purduesports.com with Purdue sports information director Tom Schott calling all the action.
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