March 6, 2004
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Boilermaker softball team allowed just two hits, while notching seven of their own including a home run, en route to a 4-0 victory over Mercer Saturday. With the win, Purdue moves to 10-4 on the season and advances to a second-place semifinal game against Northwestern.
Purdue went up 2-0 early with single runs in the bottom of the second and third. The team's first run came on an error, a sacrifice bunt and a single. Freshman DaQueta Johnson capitalized on an error by the third baseman to give the Boilermakers a base runner. Freshman Jamie Dum pinch run for Johnson and advanced to second on an Andrea Hillsey sacrifice. A ground out moved Dum to third with junior Shelli Messer coming to bat. Messer tagged a single past the third baseman to bring in the run then stole second giving Purdue another RBI chance. Sophomore Becky Stone singled past the shortstop, moving Messer to third, then stole second. A foul out left both runners stranded.
The Boilermakers used two hits and an error in the third to extend the lead to two. Senior Angela Knight singled to the second baseman, then advanced on a Katie Absher sac bunt. Sophomore Tricia Lilley then drove a single into left field and moved to second on a fielding error by the left fielder, allowing Knight to score.
Mercer put two runners aboard in the fourth via walk, but could not convert as a strike out and a pair of ground outs kept the Boilermakers' shutout in tact.
Purdue tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the sixth as sophomore Shelli Messer launched the first home run of her career, a two-run shot to left field just inside the foul pole. Messer drove in Hillsey, who had reached base on a bunt single and moved to second on a Staci Falzon sac bunt. A ground out and pop up got Mercer out of the inning.
The Bears went down 1-2-3 in the seventh to seal the Purdue win.
Freshman Brooke Baker (5-1) struck out four and allowed just two hits in the complete game effort, while senior Chris Mattice (2-3) was charged with the loss.
Purdue scored four runs on seven hits, while Mercer managed just two hits. Each team committed two errors.
Messer led the Boilermaker bats with a 2-for-3 performance at the plate, including three RBI. Five other players tallied hits for Purdue, while the team swiped three bases.
The Boilermakers are set for an 11 a.m. meeting against conference foe Northwestern. The winner of that game plays again at 1 p.m.