March 12, 2004
SUNNYVALE, Calif. - The Boilermaker softball team tallied nine hits and capitalized on four Virginia errors en route to an 8-0 mercy rule win over the Cavaliers. The victory moved Purdue to 11-5 on the year and gave the team a 1-0 record to open their fourth straight tournament of the season.
"This was the best game, both offensively and defensively, we have played all year," head coach Carol Bruggeman said after the victory.
The Boilermakers scored four runs in the third inning to take control of the game, which had yet to feature a hit. Sophomore Shelli Messer gave the team a base runner, reaching on a fielding error by the second baseman to open the inning. Messer then moved to second, when she attempted to steal and the shortstop dropped the ball after making the tag. Freshman Katie Fortune then doubled to left field to put Purdue on the board. Freshman Erika Peterson joined pinch runner Jamie Dum on base with a walk. Dum and pinch runner Cheryl Buergler then advanced on a passed ball. Senior Angela Knight then bunted and advanced to second, as the catcher tried to keep Dum at third and wound up hitting her with the throw, allowing another run to score. With Knight at second, junior Katie Absher reached on a fielder's choice as the Caveliers stopped Buergler at home. The play did not end there, however, as the third baseman tried to keep Absher from advancing to second and overthrew the base, giving Knight a chance to score. Junior Andrea Hillsey then drove a two-out single up the middle, bringing Absher around. A fly ball to left field ended the inning.
Virginia got its first hit in the top of the fourth as Sara Larquier hit a sharp single between first and second. A pop up, a sacrifice bunt and a fly out ended left the runner stranded.
Purdue added two more runs to its tally in the fourth on four hits. Fortune walked to open the inning, then Absher put a two-out single past the second baseman. Sophomore Tricia Lilley then singled into right field to load the bases. Hillsey took advantage of the RBI opportunity, singling down the third base line, driving in both Fortune and Absher. Freshman DaQueta Johnson kept the inning going with a single through the left side, again filling the bases, but a ground out left the runners stranded.
The Boilermakers capped the mercy rule win with a pair of runs in the sixth. Absher walked, then Lilley tapped a ground-rule double into left field. With runners at second and third, Hillsey again answered the call, this time with a two-run double that bounced off the center field fence.
Purdue scored eight runs on nine hits, while allowing the Cavaliers just one hit in the contest. Virginia helped the Boilermaker cause with four miscues.
Hillsey led the Boilermaker offense with a 3-for-4 performance, including five RBI. Lilley also posted multiple hits in the game, going 2-for-3, as six Purdue players contributed to the hitting barrage.
Freshman Brooke Baker (6-1) struck out four in the complete game shutout, while Erin Horn was charged with the loss after allowing six runs in three and two thirds innings of action. The one-hitter was the first of Baker's Purdue career, and the 24th in Boilermaker history.
The Boilermakers return to action for a 7 p.m. (PST) game with the No. 3 California Bears.