Feb. 28, 2003
FULLERTON, Calif. - No. 7 Cal State Fullerton proved too much for the Boilermakers, handing the team a 10-1 loss in five innings Friday evening.
Right fielder Jodie Cox doubled of the fence in right center to start the offensive domination for the Titans. Jenny Topping singled to drive in the run, but Purdue ended the inning with a double play as Amanda Hockett popped up to third and Topping was caught off the bag at second.
The Boilermakers looked poised to tie it up in the bottom of the second as senior Heidi Foster doubled to left center to start the inning. Jesse Jones earned a free pass and was replaced at first by pinch runner Cheryl Buergler. Andrea Roush then bunted into a double play with a line drive to the first baseman, who then caught Buergler away from the base. Designated player Staci Falzon walked to give Purdue two baserunners, but Gina Oaks struck out Kristen Schell on a called-strike three to escape unscathed.
With one out in the third, Oaks, the leadoff hitter, blasted a home run to left center to give the Titans a 2-0 lead. Cox and Topping followed her lead, tallying shots to right center and down the left field line. The trio of home runs was the first allowed by freshman Diana LaRiva, who departed the game for reliever Shelli Messer. Messer punched out the next two batters to end the inning.
Purdue tried to rally in the fourth inning getting two runners on after two-out singles by Jesse Jones and Andrea Roush. Jones advanced to third on the latter hit and Roush stole second to put runners in scoring position. Oaks walked Falzon to load the bases, but Oaks tallied her third strikeout of the day to get out of the inning unharmed.
The Titans found their bats again in the fifth inning, hitting through the lineup, while tallying six runs on six hits. Oaks maintained her presence in the game with a single to third base, then Topping knocked a single up the middle. Hockett recorded an RBI single up the middle to keep the rally going. Messer walked Jody Campbell before exiting the game for Leighann Burke. Amy LaRocque knocked a two-run single down the right field line. Krista O'Hanian dittoed her effort, tallying two more RBI. Jennifer Holt singled to center to score the Titan's final run.
The Old Gold and Black would not go down without a fight, however, scoring in the bottom of the fifth. Angi Roembke gave the Boilermakers a base runner with a single to short. Hillsey and Foster both reached base on balls to load the bases for Jones, who singled to left to score Purdue's lone run of the game.
Oaks moves to 10-1 on the season with the win, while LaRiva drops to 1-3. Cal State Fullerton tallied 10 runs on 12 hits, while Purdue scored one run on five hits and committed one error.
The Boilermakers will return to Titan Softball Complex Saturday for a 10 a.m. matchup with Portland State. The team will also take on No. 17 Oregon State at 2 p.m.