April 16, 2003
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Senior Leighann Burke threw her second career no-hitter as the Boilermaker softball topped Eastern Illinois 9-0 in Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader. The Purdue offense chalked up 12 hits to back Burke in the winning effort. The no-hitter, which is the ninth in school history and third of the season, makes Burke just the second Purdue player to record more than one in her career.
"I'm very excited," Burke said after the win. "It is great to be able to get my first and second no-hitters in my senior season, go out on a good note and finally accomplish the goals that I set.
"I can't express how important the defense has been, not just in a no-hitter but all season. They have been amazing and come through on so many clutch plays."
The Boilermakers put together a pair of singles in the first inning to start the scoring. Senior Angi Roembke, who went 3 for 4 in the game, kicked things off with a one-out bunt single. She then stole second before scoring on an Andrea Hillsey hit up the middle.
With two outs in the second, the team loaded the bases on an error by the third baseman, a single through the right side and a hit by pitch. No runs would score, however, as a fielder's choice to the third baseman, wound up in a force out at the plate.
Purdue put up three runs on two hits and an error in the fifth. Roembke again started the rally, this time with a single to right field. She stole second, then scored after a pair of outs as the second baseman overthrew first aiming to throw out Jesse Jones and end the inning. Senior Andrea Roush added another two runs as she tallied her third home run of the year, a shot to left field, scoring herself and Courtney Kovanis, who was pinch running for Jones.
The Boilermakers ended the game via mercy rule with five runs in the bottom of the sixth. Senior Laura Martin singled through the left side, Angela Knight followed with a bunt single, then a Tricia Lilley single into right field loaded the bases. Roembke singled to the second baseman, scoring pinch runner Staci Falzon from third. With one out, senior Heidi Foster hit a sacrifice fly into left field, scoring Knight. Jones then ended the game with a three-run walk-off home run.
A defensive error in the second inning was all that stopped Burke from recording her first career perfect game, as she struck out five and put no one aboard in the game.
"It was a dominating offensive effort," head coach Carol Bruggeman said. "It took us a while to get going, but when we did the flood gates opened. Everybody was hitting and picking up RBIs. I am very proud of Leighann getting her second career no-hitter, it has been a long time coming. She has had so many career one-hitters, she deserves it."
Knight was a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate with one run scored, while Roembke posted a 3-for-4 performance with one RBI and three runs scored to go with a pair of steals.
The team boosted its record to 12-1 when reaching double digits in the hits category.
The Boilermakers will look for a sweep with a Game 2 victory.