May 1, 2003
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue softball team played solid defense and put together 10 hits in a 3-0 victory over Indiana State in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader.
A pair of doubles by Tricia Lilley and Heidi Foster put the Boilermakers on the board in the bottom of the first. Lilley's was a long shot off the left center wall, while Foster's went the opposite way, knocking one off the right center wall.
Purdue put a runner on the base paths in each of the next three innings, but did not score again until the fifth, when two hits, a walk and a sacrifice fly combined for a run. Lilley started things off with a single through the left side, then moved to second on an Angi Roembke sacrifice bunt. Pitcher Emily Germer then walked Andrea Hillsey to put two aboard for Heidi Foster, who singled to center field. Senior Jesse Jones then shot a high fly ball into center field, which was enough to drive in Lilley from third and move Jones into second on the career sac fly list with nine. A ground out ended the rally.
The Boilermakers scored an insurance run in the sixth on a trio of hits and a hit by pitch. Pinch hitter Katie Absher led off the inning with a bunt single, then designated player Staci Falzon followed with a single down the left field line. Lilley drew her 14th hit by pitch of the year to load the bases. Pinch hitter Laura Martin then singled up the middle to score Absher. The Sycamores turned a fielder's choice into a double play to get out of the inning.
Indiana State had one last chance in the seventh inning and put a runner aboard with two outs, but could not convert. Senior Kate Gilner tabbed the team's second hit of the contest, a roller up the middle, but a strike out, the seventh of the day for pitcher Leighann Burke, left her stranded. The Sycamores other hit was a one-out single in the fourth by Stacey Sparger. That rally was cut short by a double play as the next batter flew out and right fielder Angela Knight caught Sparger away from the bag at first.
Burke struck out seven in the winning effort, which moved her record to 19-14, while Germer fell to 4-16 with the loss.
Purdue (32-26, 4-12 Big Ten) recorded three runs on 10 hits, while giving up just two hits. The win boosts the Boilermakers' record to 18-1 when tallying double digits in the hit column. Lilley, Foster and Falzon were each two for three in the contest.
"Our focus for the whole day was defense," head coach Carol Bruggeman said. "I think we are one of the best defensive teams in the conference and the country, but we just haven't been playing like it lately. I thought our infield defense in the first game, and really all day, was outstanding. We read the ball well, we had good throws and just fielded the ball cleanly. I was very pleased with our defense. I also think Leighann pitched an outstanding game, a two-hitter, and really was never in any tight situation she had to work her way out of. Most importantly, too, I felt like we hit the ball well."