March 28, 2003
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Boilermaker softball team opened the 2003 Big Ten season on a winning note, topping Penn State 5-1 with strong hitting and tough defense.
Purdue put together a three-hit, third inning to get on the scoreboard first. Freshman Tricia Lilley doubled to right center to get things started, then advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Angi Roembke. Sophomore Andrea Hillsey singled up the middle to drive in the run. Senior Heidi Foster singled but was stranded after a fielder's choice and a foul out.
The Boilermakers tacked on three more runs in the fifth on two hits and two Nittany Lion errors. Roembke tallied a bunt single to open the inning and advanced to second on a ground out. A Heidi Foster single up the middle, scored Roembke. Senior Jesse Jones then reached on an error the shortstop, one of five on the day for PSU. Sophomore Shelli Messer saw her first action since fracturing her cheek bone three weeks ago as she replaced Jones as a pinch runner. Relief pitcher Tina Skelly then walked Andrea Roush to load the bases. A wild pitch and an errant throw by the catcher brought around both Foster and Messer to give Purdue a 4-0 lead.
Penn State finally answered in the sixth inning as a Kelley Galigher single to right field scored pinch runner Scarlett Neal from second. Neal was running for pinch hitter Kate Gentile, who was walked to lead off the inning. Freshman pitcher Diana LaRiva inherited Galigher and Megan Humphrey who had walked, but maintained her composure. After walking Leigh Murray, LaRiva got Erin Norton to fly out to center field to get out of the jam.
The Old Gold and Black capped the game with a seventh-inning, two out RBI single by freshman Lauren Devich, who went 4-for-4 on the day. Devich slipped one through the left side, scoring Foster, who doubled to right to start the inning. Foster advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Roush before scoring on the freshman's hit.
The Boilermaker defense shut down the Nittany Lions 1-2-3 in the final stanza with a fly out, strike out and ground out.
Purdue scored five runs on 10 hits and five PSU errors, while giving up just one run on three hits. Senior Leighann Burke (14-6) picked up the win after five and two thirds innings, while LaRiva snagged her third save of the year with one and a third innings of hitless relief. Marisa Hanson fell to 8-6 with the loss.
The Boilermakers and Nittany Lions will meet again Saturday in a noon matchup.