April 19, 2002
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Purdue softball team fell on Friday, 7-1, to the Ohio State Buckeyes at Buckeye Field in Columbus. The Boilermakers fall to 31-19 (2-7 Big Ten), while the Buckeyes improve to 41-9 (10-3 Big Ten).
"Ohio State was just the better team today," said Purdue head coach Carol Bruggeman. "Their pitchers got big outs when they needed to and we left a lot of runners on base. Their hitters also capitalized on every opportunity that they had today."
The Boilermakers started with a very big hole to dig out of, as the Buckeyes came out strong in the bottom of the first inning and tallied four runs on five hits. The Scarlet and Grey started with a double to left center field, followed by a bunt single that advanced the lead-off batter to third. Then the first run scored on a double steal from first to second and third to home. Another double, this time down the left field line, put another run across and another runner on second with no outs.
With a ground out by the clean-up batter Stacey Roth, a runner went to third and then scored on yet another double to left center field. A sacrifice fly to right field advanced the OSU runner to third and a single up the middle scored her. The Boilermakers made a pitching change and were able to cause a fly ball for the last out of the inning.
In the bottom of the second inning, the Buckeyes came back and scored two more runs on four hits, both with two outs. A double and a single caused the RBI for Ohio State, as the left two runners still on base.
In the third inning, the Boilermakers started a rally, as sophomore right fielder Angela Knight singled to left field and senior shortstop Katie Crabtree singled through the left side. The Buckeyes, in turn, took out Knight as she approached third on a fielder's choice by junior left fielder Angi Roembke. With two more pop-fly balls, the Boilermakers ended the inning, leaving runners at first and second.
The Purdue defense continued to shut down the Buckeyes, before it scored one run of its own in the top of the fifth inning. The Boilermakers were able to earn their only run of the game as Crabtree singled and moved her way around to second on a Roembke single and then crossed the plate from second on a freshman Andrea Hillsey single up the middle.
Ohio State tallied one more run in the bottom of the fifth, matching the Boilermakers, on a fielder's choice that eventually scored on a single up the middle.
The Boilermakers will return to the field when they play the second game of the series at Ohio State on Saturday. Game time is set for noon EDT.
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