April 12, 2003
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A crowd of 307 cheered wildly as the Boilermaker softball team aimed to take down No. 24 Illinois, but it was to no avail as the Illini used four hits and six walks to nail down a 4-1 win and a sweep in the series.
Freshman Lauren Devich posted an RBI double in the second to put the Boilermakers up 1-0. The hit followed a back-to-back fielder's choices by Jesse Jones and Andrea Roush, who scored on the double. Illinois tied it up with a one-out solo home run to center by Erin Montgomery.
With two outs and runners at second and third, Katie O'Connell dropped a fly ball into right field, which was trapped by a diving Angela Knight, allowing a run to score. Knight made the throw to catcher Jesse Jones, trying to stop a second run, but the umpire ruled the runner safe in a close play at the plate. The runners were walked aboard by starter Leighann Burke and advanced into scoring position on a wild pitch.
Purdue threatened to break the game open in the fourth after a pair of singles and the only walk by Illini pitcher Sherri Taylor loaded the bases with just one out. However, Taylor got herself out of the jam, striking out the next two batters.
The Illini made it 4-1 in the fifth with a single to left center with a runner on first. Jenna Hall followed a Lindsey Hamma fielder's choice with a ground ball into the deep outfield, to drive in the run from first.
With two outs in the top of the seventh, the Boilermakers looked to pinch hitter Laura Martin to keep the team's hopes alive. Martin delivered with a single through the left side, just past the Illini third baseman's outstretched arm. Junior Angela Knight then hit a hard ball at the shortstop, who bobbled it, giving Purdue two aboard. But, it was not meant to be, as a pop up to the third baseman sealed the victory for Illinois.
Purdue scored one run on six hits and one Illini error, while Illinois posted four runs on as many hits. Burke fell to 16-9 on the season with the loss, while Taylor moved to 6-3 with the victory. The single run was enough to set a new single season record for runs scored with 241. It surpasses the previous record of 240 set in 2002.
"We outhit Illinois, but they had timely hits," head coach Carol Bruggeman said. "We aren't playing badly, it just seems, at times, we are playing not to lose, instead of playing to win."
The Boilermakers (26-19, 3-5 Big Ten) look to get back on the winning track when they play host to Northwestern in a noon doubleheader on Sunday. The Wildcats (23-11, 5-5 Big Ten) come into West Lafayette after sweeping Indiana, 6-3 and 2-1, Friday and Saturday. Purdue will be aiming to snap a two-game series win streak by the Wildcats, who swept the 2002 meetings.
Sunday is "A League of Their Own" day at the ballpark. There will be trivia throughout the game to win a DVD player and an "A League of Their Own" DVD.