March 19, 2003
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Boilermakers put together more than 15 hits for the second time in three days, as they scored nine runs on 16 hits, including three doubles, in a 9-0 win over Western Kentucky in Game 1 of the doubleheader.
A pair of first inning doubles was all Purdue needed to clinch the victory, as pitcher Leighann Burke only allowed three hits in her third shutout of the season. Lilley started the game with a double to center and advanced to third on an Angi Roembke sacrifice bunt. Senior Heidi Foster drove in the game's first run with a double to left field.
The Boilermakers tacked on another run in the second with a pair of singles. Freshman designated player Staci Falzon singled to right center to give Purdue a base runner. She then stole second and moved to third on a Kristen Schell ground ball. Junior Angela Knight tabbed a two-out single to left field to score Falzon and give the Old Gold and Black a 2-0 lead.
Another RBI single by Knight in the fourth inning extended the Purdue lead to three. Senior Andrea Roush singled up the middle, then Falzon followed with a bunt single. A sacrifice bunt by Schell put the runners in scoring position for Knight, who singled past the third baseman to score Roush.
Western Kentucky threatened in the bottom of the inning as three walks loaded the bases with two outs, but a straight shot to third baseman Jesse Jones led to the force out which ended the inning.
Purdue padded its lead with four more runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh. Lilley got the sixth inning rally started with a single to left. Roembke followed with a single to short, then pitcher Adrienne Lathrop gave sophomore Andrea Hillsey a free pass to fill the bases. Lathrop then walked Foster to give Purdue a free run. Jones then knocked a three-run double to the left field warning track to put the Old Gold and Black up 7-0.
Pinch hitter Laura Martin took a ball in the foot from the WKU pitcher to start the seventh. Junior Cheryl Buergler pinch ran for Martin and advanced to second on a passed ball. Knight joined her on base with a walk. Lilley singled past the third baseman to pack the bases. Another passed ball advanced the runners and scored Buergler from third. Hillsey then tallied another base hit up the third baseline to drive in Knight and cap the game.
The game marked the eighth time in school history the Boilermakers have recorded 16 hits or more. Lilley was 3-for-5 in the game, while Hillsey was 2-for-3 with one walk and one RBI. Jones was 1-for-4 with three RBI, while Foster drove in two, while going 2-for-4 with a walk. The three-hit shutout was senior Leighann Burke's third of the season and followed a one-hit effort against Tennessee State on Monday. Burke is now 9-6 on the season, while Lathrop dropped to 7-3 for WKU.