March 12, 2004
SUNNYVALE, Calif. - The No. 3 California Golden Bears handed Purdue an 8-0 loss Friday night in game two of the NIST tournament. The Bears (24-2) scored eight runs on nine hits and two Purdue errors en route to the victory. The Boilermakers will look to rebound at noon Saturday when they take on No. 20 Arizona State in the first round of bracket play.
"Cal proved why they are the No. 3 team in the nation tonight," head coach Carol Bruggeman said.
The Bears scored first with a pair of runs in the bottom of the opening inning. Lindsay James singled up the third base line, then a catcher's interference call nullified a fielder's choice and put Kaleo Eldredge aboard as well. A Haley Woods sacrifice fly into center field was enough to bring James in to score. Jessica Pamanian then singled up the middle to drive in Eldredge from third. A strike out got Purdue out of the inning without further damage.
The Boilermakers had a chance to respond in the second as junior Andrea Hillsey singled up the middle to lead things off. Hillsey then moved to second on a ground out. A fielder's choice stopped Hillsey in her tracks, but put redshirt sophomore Kristen Schell aboard instead. Junior Shelli Messer then doubled into right field, putting runners at second and third with two outs. A strike out left the runners stranded.
Cal added a trio of runs in the third on three hits, including two home runs. Woods sent a solo shot just inside the left field foul pole. Pamanian then doubled to right field, and scored on a Chelsea Spencer shot over the left center wall. Freshman Brooke Baker came in to relieve Diana LaRiva on the mound and forced a ground out and pop up to end the inning.
The Bears capped the scoring with three more runs in the fourth. Alex Sutton led off with a single to left, then Vicky Galindo followed with a single past the shortstop. Both runners scored when James doubled down the third baseline. An error by the second baseman put Eldredge aboard and moved James to third. Pamanian came to bat with one out and popped a sacrifice fly into deep right field, allowing James to score. A ground out brought the Boilermakers to bat one last time.
Schell walked to kick off the fifth, but a fly out, ground out and caught foul ball ended Purdue's hopes of extending the game.
Kelly Anderson (14-2) picked up the win for Cal after striking out four batters in the complete game shutout. LaRiva (5-5) was charged with the loss after two and a third innings of work.
Cal scored eight runs on nine hits. Purdue managed two hits while committing two errors.
The Boilermakers (11-6) will now take on No. 20 Arizona State at noon Saturday.