March 17, 2003
NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Boilermaker bats along with five Tennessee State errors helped the team to a 10-1 win over the Tigers in Game 2 of the doubleheader.
Purdue scored 10 runs on 10 hits in the game, with the deciding run again coming in the opening stanza.
Tricia Lilley singled up the middle to lead off and advanced to second on an Angi Roembke sacrifice bunt. The Boilermakers got another runner as pitcher Alana Thomas hit Andrea Hillsey. Senior Heidi Foster singled to right to load the bases for Jesse Jones. Thomas handed Purdue a free run, walking Jones and sending Lilley home. Senior Andrea Roush drove in the second run with a fielder's choice, which saw Foster stop at third, but allowed Hillsey to score.
The Boilermakers struck again in the fourth inning, stringing together a pair of hits, a fielder's choice and a Tiger error for two runs. Third baseman Lauren Devich singled to get the rally started. Designated player Becky Stone hit a sacrifice bunt to advance pinch runner Staci Falzon to second. Junior Angela Knight singled past the shortstop, then Lilley reached on a fielder's choice, which put Falzon out at third. The Old Gold and Black then pulled off a double steal which turned into two runs as the catcher threw the ball away into center field, trying to get the out at second.
Tennessee State's lone run of the day came in the fourth as catcher Angela Huebner hit her fourth home run of the season over the left field fence.
Purdue got the run back and more with three runs in the fifth and another three in the sixth. Tiger shortstop Cat Smith committed three costly errors in the fifth, which allowed the Purdue runs. The shortstop missed a line drive from Jesse Jones and tried to recover, but overthrew third base allowing Hillsey and Foster to score from first and second. The Boilermakers capitalized on two more Tiger miscues, one by the second baseman and another by the shortstop, allowed Jesse Jones to score and give the Boilermakers a 7-1 lead.
In the sixth inning, Purdue took advantage of its hot bats as a bases loaded triple capped the game at 10-1. Lilley singled to short to kick things off. Roembke followed with a single past the pitcher, then reliever Tarah Evanisko walked Hillsey to load the bases for Jones, who tripled up the right field line.
Freshman Diana LaRiva allowed just three hits and one walk, while striking out six in the six inning effort. She improves to 5-5, while Thomas dropped to 0-2 on the year.
Lilley and Devich each went 2-for-4 for the Boilermakers, while Jones tallied four RBI. Lilley, Hillsey, Knight and pinch runner Courtney Kovanis all recorded stolen bases in the victory.
The Boilermakers (13-12) will take Tuesday off from competition before traveling to Bowling Green, Ky., for a Wednesday doubleheader with Western Kentucky.