Feb. 15, 2003
LAS VEGAS - The Boilermaker bats didn't cool overnight as Purdue followed a Friday evening win featuring a school record four home runs and two five-run innings with a 7-5 victory over the Texas Tech Red Raiders (6-9). Senior Heidi Foster went 3-for-3 in the game with two RBI to lead the team's 11 hit effort.
"Offensively, we came out on fire again and certainly had another opportunity to run-rule a team," head coach Carol Bruggeman said. "We hit the ball very well and our defense played well enough to win us the game. Texas Tech is a good hitting team and our pitchers hung in there. I am the most proud of our offensive effort."
Tech pitcher Amie Stines walked the bases loaded to open the game. Foster then singled to left field to score lead-off hitter Tricia Lilley from third and advance left fielder Angi Roembke and second baseman Andrea Hillsey to second and third. Roembke scored on a passed ball, while Hillsey went on to third. Senior Jesse Jones flied out to right field, but the ball was deep enough for the runners to tag up and for Hillsey to score.
Third baseman Shelli Messer kept it going in the second inning with a base hit through the left side. Right fielder Angela Knight reached on a sacrifice bunt, moving Messer to second. Lilley singled to right, driving in Messer and putting Knight in scoring position at third. Roembke gave Purdue a 5-0 lead with an RBI single to left field.
The Boilermakers would score one more time before allowing the Red Raiders to cross the plate. Designated player Laura Martin kicked off the third inning with a base hit to left field and advanced to second on another single by Messer. The inning's first out came as Knight tallied a fielder's choice bunt, which resulted in an easy out at third. Lilley kept the third baseman busy with a grounder, but it was enough to put the runners in scoring position. Roembke did her part, reaching base on a bunt, which set up a play at the plate and scored Messer on an error by the catcher.
Texas Tech made a late rally, putting together nine hits over the final four innings, including three runs on five hits in the bottom of the third. A two-out single put two runners on for leftfielder Kelly Rhyne. Rhyne doubled to right center to put a run on the scoreboard for the Raiders. Tech's second run came as Kristi Robles scored from third on an error by the catcher following a passed ball. A double to center by pinch hitter Arlene Newton drove in Rhyne for the inning's final run.
Purdue extended its lead to four with a single and a pair of bunts. A Foster single scored Roembke, who had singled and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Hillsey.
The Red Raiders answered with a run of their own in both the sixth and seventh. Designated player Amanda Douglas launched a solo shot to left field for Texas Tech's lone hit of the sixth. The team then tried to continue the rally in the seventh with another home run, this time by Robles. With two outs, Purdue gave Newton a free pass after 10 pitches, but a ground out to third base sealed the Boilermaker victory.
The Old Gold and Black move to 3-4 on the season, while Texas Tech drops to 6-9 overall. Senior Leighann Burke evened her record at 2-2 with the win after four innings of action, while Red Raider starter Amie Stines was charged with the loss for allowing three runs in the first and leaving the bases loaded for reliever Erin Crawford.
Next up, the Boilermakers will take on the Cal Poly Mustangs in a 2 p.m. meeting. Purdue owns a 2-0 record in the series with Cal Poly.