March 7, 2003
PLANT CITY, Fla. - The Purdue bats were hot as the Boilermaker softball team tallied nine hits, including a grand slam and a solo home run, en route to a 9-0, two-hit shutout of Pittsburgh (4-11).
The game winning run came in the second inning as junior Angela Knight hit a two-run single to right field, scoring Staci Falzon from second and pinch runner Katie Absher from third. Absher was running for senior Jesse Jones who walked to open the inning. She then moved to second on an Andrea Roush sacrifice bunt. Falzon came aboard on a catcher obstruction call and moved into scoring position on a ground out. Knight tallied the two-out hit, but was caught in a run down between first and second.
The Boilermakers then put together a four-run fourth inning, as freshman Tricia Lilley (5) recorded a Purdue first with her second grand slam of the season. Senior Andrea Roush reached base on a fielder's choice and then stole second. Falzon walked and both runners moved on a ground out. Pitcher Janelle Pepe walked Knight to set up the Lilley shot to left field. Senior Angi Roembke continued the team's batting success with a single up the middle and a stolen base, but Panther reliever Nikki Gasti got Andrea Hillsey to ground out to end the inning.
The Old Gold and Black tallied another round tripper as senior Jesse Jones launched her first of the season, a one-out solo shot to left field in the fifth. The rally continued as Roush singled to center field and Falzon again took advantage of a catcher obstruction call. Freshman Lauren Devich pinch hit for Kristen Schell in the eight spot and got on with a fielder's choice, when Pittsburgh recorded the force out at second. Knight tallied her third RBI of the day with a single to left field, scoring Roush. Lilley upped her RBI total to five in the game with a single to right driving in Devich from third.
Pittsburgh left four runners on base and tallied one hit each in the first, second and fifth. Senior Leighann Burke moved to 6-5 on the season with the complete game victory, while Pepe dropped to 2-2 with the loss.
Roembke went 3-for-4, while Knight was 2-for-2 with a walk and Lilley went 2-for-4.
"This was definitely Leighann Burke's best outing of the year," head coach Carol Bruggeman said. "She had seven strikeouts and no walks. It was just an outstanding effort from her and our defense played very well behind her to get the shutout. Offensively, we just kept attacking. We got the lead and built on the lead. Obviously, the two big home runs were key. Tricia Lilley's grand slam was very exciting and put the game away. It was one of our best overall efforts on the year."