Feb. 22, 2004
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Boilermaker softball team launched three home runs en route to its 5-0 win over Samford Sunday morning at the Sonic Challenge. Purdue tallied 10 hits and Diana LaRiva struck out eight en route to the win, which moved the team to 5-3 on the year. The team wraps up its time at the Challenge with a 12:15 game against Dayton.
Redshirt sophomore Kristen Schell got Purdue on the board with a solo shot over the left field fence to lead off the second inning. Senior Angela Knight duplicated that effort with a bomb to dead center field to open the third stanza.
The Boilermakers added a third run in the top of the fifth by taking advantage of an error, a fielder's choice and a rocket up the middle. Knight reached on a miscue by the second baseman and then advanced to second when Tricia Lilley came aboard via fielder's choice. Freshman DaQueta Johnson then fired a single up the middle to drive in Knight.
The Bulldogs threatened in the fifth, as Erin Hall doubled to left field and then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt. A pop up and line out left her stranded keeping Purdue's shutout in tact.
Purdue padded its lead in the top of the seventh when Lilley launched a two-run dinger over the center field fence. The round tripper scored Andrea Hillsey, who singled down the third base line and then advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by Knight. Pitcher Emilee Lewis then hit Johnson giving the Boilermakers another base runner. Freshman Katie Fortune knocked a two-out, pinch hit single into left field, then both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. A strikeout got Samford out of the inning without further damage.
After a fielding error, the Bulldogs went down in order to seal the Purdue victory.
Lilley went 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run, as the Boilermakers came one home run shy of the school record four set last season against UNLV. The round trippers were the first of the year by Lilley, Knight and Schell and boosted the team's season total to five.
Sophomore Diana LaRiva (4-2) struck out eight in the complete game effort, while allowing just two hits. Lewis (1-2) was charged with the loss.