April 27, 2003
EAST LANSING, Mich. - A late rally wasn't enough to lift the Purdue softball team to a come-from-behind victory over Michigan State, as the Spartans claimed a 4-2 win in Game 2 of the doubleheader.
The Boilermakers scored first by way of a Heidi Foster sacrifice fly with two runners in scoring postion. Andrea Hillsey started the inning with a lead-off walk, then advanced to second on an Andrea Roush sacrifice bunt. Jesse Jones then dropped a single just over the pitcher's head, moving Hillsey to third. Pinch runner Cheryl Buergler then stole second to set up the sac fly into center field by Foster.
The Spartans tied it up with an unearned run in the top of the third. Margaret Schick reached on a fielding error by the shortstop. Natalie Furrow joined her on base as the first baseman overthrew the covering second baseman on a sacrifice bunt. The runners each advanced an extra base on the error, putting runners at second and third. The next two batters grounded out, but Purdue wasn't out of danger yet. Pitcher Diana LaRiva walked the next two batters, to give MSU a free run, before striking out Angel Merren to end the inning.
MSU added another unearned run in the fourth after a walk, two hit and a fielding error. Brittney Green singled up the left line to start the inning. Sandy Lewis reached via walk, then Schick outran the throw on a bunt single to load the bases. Relief pitcher Leighann Burke, who started the inning, got the next two batters to strike out and fly out, nearly dodging a bullet. However, Jessica Beech hit a grounder to the third baseman, who bobbled the ball, allowing the run to score. Burke escaped further damage by striking out the next batter.
A trio of singles in the fifth gave the Spartans a 3-1 lead. Merren and Green singled up the middle prompting another Boilermaker pitching change. Sophomore Shelli Messer took the mound to face Lewis, who singled into deep right field to drive in Merren from third. Messer then got the force out at home on a fielder's choice and struck out Tiffany Wallace to end the inning and strand three more MSU runners.
Messer took the first two batters in the sixth via ground balls, but a pair of walks followed and would lead to the Spartans' fourth run. A single by Green into center field scored Lacy Hauxhurst from second, but also ended the inning as Green tried to stretch the hit into a double and was thrown out by the catcher.
Senior Heidi Foster hit her 10th home run of the season, a shot to left field, to lead off the seventh inning and chip away at the MSU lead. A fly out and ground out brought up Tricia Lilley as the team's final hope. Lilley did her part with a well hit fly ball to right center field, but the right fielder made a diving grab to take the hit away and clinch the game for Michigan State (33-15, 11-6).
Foster had just one of the team's four hits, but scored both runs with the solo shot and a sacrifice fly. The Spartans scored four runs on 11 hits and three Boilermaker errors, but left 15 runners stranded in the contest.
Burke took the loss, despite pitching just one and a third innings, while Stephanie Christner picked up the complete game victory.
Purdue (31-26, 4-12) will now return home for a Thursday doubleheader against intrastate rival Indiana State, before playing a home-and-home series with Indiana on Saturday and Sunday.