May 3, 2003
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Senior Day brought a crowd of 747 to say goodbye to the 2003 senior class as well as to see the Boilermakers down the Indiana Hoosiers 6-0.
Senior Andrea Roush made good on a bases loaded opportunity in the third after hitting into a fielder's choice in the same situation to open the game. Roush launched the 2-1 pitch to the center field warning track for a triple to clear the bases. Tricia Lilley scored after leading off the inning with a single to center and moving to second on an Angi Roembke sacrifice bunt. Heidi Foster rounded the bases after recording the first hit-by-pitch of her Purdue career and stealing second. Jesse Jones was the final RBI for Roush, after receiving a free ticket from pitcher Heather Stillians.
The Boilermakers tacked on another run in the fourth on a trio of infield singles and a ground ball. Speedy legs helped Shelli Messer, Angela Knight and Lilley outrun the throws to first to load the bases for Roembke, who picked up the RBI with a ground out to the second baseman.
Purdue produced a pair of runs in the fifth with a variety of hits, walks and steals. The first run came on a Messer single into left field, which scored pinch runner Staci Falzon from third. Falzon was running for Jesse Jones, who was walked for the third time in the game, tying a school single game record. Falzon advance to third on a infield single by Roush and a sacrifice bunt by senior Laura Martin, before scoring on the Messer base hit. Roush moved around the bases on the single and the sacrifice, then scored on a successful double steal, swiping home as Messer snagged second.
The Hoosiers threatened in the top of the sixth, loading the bases on a pair of singles and a walk with one out. The Boilermaker defense stifled the rally, as Lauren Hines popped out and senior Leighann Burke tallied her fifth strikeout of the day. Purdue downed the Hoosiers 1-2-3 in the top of the seventh to capture the win and half of a point in the Titan Series.
All six seniors contributed in the win, while playing their final game in the Varsity Softball Complex. Roembke tallied the RBI ground out, Foster took a hit-by-pitch to round the bases for the team's second run, Jones scored after taking three walks, Martin sacrificed herself to put runners in scoring position in the fifth, and Roush led the team with a 2-for-3 performance including three RBI and a run scored. Burke picked up the victory, with her 41st career complete game, moving her into sole possession of second on the all-time list, while boosting her school record shutout total to 23.
Sophomore Shelli Messer also went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.
The Boilermakers and Hoosiers will finish off the series in a noon game on Sunday in Bloomington.