Feb. 28, 2003
FULLERTON, Calif. - The Boilermaker softball team used timely hits and strong defense to top the No. 26 Pacific Tigers to open the Worth Invitational on Friday. The win also pulls Purdue to .500 on the season at 5-5.
Freshman short stop Tricia Lilley put Purdue on the board in the third inning with a triple to right field, the team's first of the year, to drive in junior Angela Knight who was walked.
The Tigers chalked up a hit in each of the first five innings, but couldn't convert them into runs due in part to tough defense by the Boilermakers. Lilley snagged a backwards catch at the third base line to help strand a runner in the second, while Knight robbed designated player Michelle Anunciation of a potential long ball with a running catch at the fence in the fifth inning.
The Old Gold and Black padded their lead in the bottom of the fifth. Lilley singled to right to kick things off. Senior Angi Roembke and sophomore Andrea Hillsey received free passes from pitcher Natalie King to load the bases. Senior first baseman Heidi Foster hit a long fly ball, which was caught by the right fielder in foul territory, but it was deep enough to drive Lilley in from third and seal the Purdue victory.
Pacific tried to stay alive with a rally in the top of the sixth as Barbara Moody and Brandy Thurman hit back-to-back singles to open the inning. Pitcher Leighann Burke put up a full count on Kristen Allen, but eventually walked her to fill the bases. That marked the end for Burke as freshman Diana LaRiva entered the game in relief. LaRiva kicked things off by striking out Crystal Presson on five pitches. Purdue edged closer to victory when Hillsey threw Moody out at home on a fielder's choice. The Tigers again were unable to score as Ashlie D'Errico struck out to end the inning.
LaRiva tallied three more K's as Pacific went down one-two-three on 10 pitches to end the game.
"This was just an outstanding team effort," head coach Carol Bruggeman said. "Leighann did a nice job keeping their hitters off balance early in the game. Then Diana came in and pitched her best game to date in a Boilermaker uniform, striking out five of the last six batters. Tricia Lilley also continued to swing a good bat for us in the lead off spot. Knocking off a top 30 team is a good way to start the tournament."
Purdue tallied two runs on three hits with no errors, while the Tigers were scoreless on six hits. Burke moves to 4-3 with the victory, while the loss drops King to 2-3 on the year.