March 8, 2003
PLANT CITY, Fla. - The Boilermaker softball team clinched the No. 1 seed in its pool with a 6-4 victory over Temple (4-6) in the final game of pool play. Purdue (9-10) advances to the championship bracket where it will face an opponent to be announced later.
The Purdue bats came alive in the fifth inning as both bunts and deep hits helped the Boilermakers score five runs in the come-from-behind victory. Freshman Staci Falzon pinch hit for Kristen Schell and gave the team a base runner with a single up the middle. Junior Angela Knight then bunted to move the runner and wound up safe at first as well. Pitcher Vicky Grasham walked freshman Tricia Lilley to load the bases for senior Angi Roembke, who bunted in Falzon from third as the catcher dropped the throw from the pitcher for the out at home. Grasham gave the Boilermakers another run, walking sophomore Andrea Hillsey and sending Knight home. Senior Heidi Foster then lasered a double to left center to score both Lilley and Roembke. Senior Andrea Roush then tallied a two-out bunt to score Hillsey from third.
The Old Gold and Black added to their lead, capitalizing on a pair of Owl errors to score another run. Kristen Schell kicked things off with a single to left field. Freshman Lauren Devich pinch ran for her and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Knight. Tricia Lilley singled up the middle, allowing Devich to round third and head for home, but she was thrown out by the center fielder as Lilley advanced to second. Roembke reached base on an error by the pitcher, which sent Lilley to third. Roembke stole second and advanced to third on an errant throw by the catcher attempting to catch her stealing, while Lilley scored on the play.
Temple took an early 2-0 lead with three hits in the second inning. Bari Lynn Pflueger singled down the left field line, then Alexis Gary followed with a double to center giving the Owls runners at second and third for Chrissy Harris. Harris tabbed a two-run double to right field to give Temple the lead.
The Owls made it a three-run game in the fourth inning, taking advantage of the lone Purdue error. Harris tallied a ground-rule double and advanced to third on a passed ball. The catcher then attempted to keep her at third but did not connect with the third baseman on the throw, allowing Harris to score.
Temple attempted to narrow the margin in the bottom of the inning following Purdue's rally. Katie Weigle singled to short, then Gary knocked a two-out double to left field to drive in the run.
Nine different Boilermakers recorded a hit in the game and Roembke stole two bases. Purdue scored six runs on nine hits, while committing one error. Temple put up four runs on eight hits and three errors. Reliever Diana LaRiva pitched 3.1 innings, allowing three hits and one earned run while striking out four. Graham took the loss, giving up five runs on five hits.
"Temple has a very good team," head coach Carol Bruggeman said. "Their pitcher is one of the better pitchers that we have seen. She mixed speeds very well and pretty much shut us down through four innings. In the fifth inning, Staci Falzon had a lead-off pinch hit that got things going and from that point on, the flood gates opened and our offense opened up. It was just a well played game by both teams. Our offense came alive late and Heidi Foster had a double that really broke it all open."