March 17, 2003
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Purdue softball team outscored Tennessee State 22-1 in a sweep of the Tigers Monday afternoon.
The Boilermakers dominated Tennessee State on both sides of the ball in Game 1, racking up 12 runs on 15 hits, while senior Leighann Burke limited the Tigers to just one hit from the mound.
Purdue scored early and often, kicking off the game with a five-run first inning. Sophomore Andrea Hillsey clinched the game for the Boilermakers with a two-run single to center field. Hillsey drove in freshman Tricia Lilley and senior Angi Roembke, who were at second and third after a single and an error by the second baseman. Roembke stole second to set up the run. Senior Heidi Foster doubled to off the left field fence to score Hillsey. Redshirt freshman Kristen Schell put the Boilermakers up 4-0 with a bases loaded RBI single up the middle, scoring senior Jesse Jones from third. The final run of the inning came as pitcher Shannon Hicks hit Lilley to walk in Laura Martin, who reached base with a single to center.
The Boilermakers tied on seven more runs in the second stanza on as many hits. Hillsey picked up her second hit with a single to center. She made the trip home as Foster launched her fourth home run of the season, a shot to center field. Jones walked, then Andrea Roush hit a bunt single and Martin singled to right to load the bases. Schell reached on a fielder's choice as the Tigers got Jones on the force out at home. Junior Angela Knight scored Roush with a single past the pitcher, then Lilley drove in Martin with a base hit to right center. Schell crossed the plate on a Roembke sacrifice bunt. Hillsey tallied two more RBI with a triple down the right field line, scoring Knight and Lilley.
The lone hit for the Tigers was a bunt single by Cat Smith in the first inning. Purdue's 15 hits ranks eighth on the single-game record list. The one-hitter was Burke's eighth as a Boilermaker, and the 27th all-time for Purdue. She moved to 8-6 with the win, while Hicks fell to 1-5.
Hillsey was 3-for-4 with four RBI, while Foster was 2-for-4 with three RBI in the game which took just one hour and 16 minutes to play.
"Leighann Burke is on a roll," head coach Carol Bruggeman said. "She was a real leader on the mound with a one-hitter. She is definitely pitching her best softball of the season. Everybody hit well, especially Tricia, Hillsey and Heidi. We came out and dominated the entire game."