March 14, 2004
SUNNYVALE, Calif. - The Purdue softball team knocked off its second conference opponent in as many games at the National Invitational Softball Tournament, as the Boilermakers dealt Minnesota a 5-0 shut out Sunday morning. The victory clinched Purdue fifth place in the tournament with a 3-2 record, while boosting the team's overall mark to 13-7.
The Boilermakers scored first with a trio of runs in the top of the third. Freshman Erika Peterson started things off reached on a fielding error by the pitcher. Senior Cheryl Buergler then laid down a sacrifice bunt to move pinch runner Catherine Zaworski to second. Senior Angela Knight joined Zaworski on base when she took a pitch to the shoulder. Junior Katie Absher then hit into a botched fielder's choice, when the pitcher overthrew third base trying to get the runner out. The overthrow allowed Zaworski to score, while moving Knight to third and putting Absher on second with sophomore Tricia Lilley coming to the plate. Lilley made good on the RBI opportunity with a single into short right field, which drove in both runners. A pair of Boilermakers went down swinging to end the inning.
Purdue put another runner in scoring position in the fourth when sophomore Staci Falzon doubled to deep center field to lead off the inning. Falzon moved to third on an Erika Peterson fly ball to right, then scored on an errant throw by the catcher, who was trying to catch her away from the base at third. A ground ball ended the stanza.
The Boilermakers tacked on another run in the sixth as the team combined a walk, stolen base and hit for a tally. Junior Andrea Hillsey picked up the lead-off walk, then stole second. Falzon then sent a solid one-out single up the middle, bringing Hillsey around to score. A strike out and caught foul ball left Falzon stranded.
Sophomore Becky Stone sent a pinch hit single into right field to lead off the seventh. Knight followed with a single up the middle, then Hillsey walked with two outs to load the bases. A line drive to the second baseman got the Gophers out of the inning unscathed.
Minnesota put multiple runners aboard for the first time in the bottom of the seventh. Megan Higginbotham tabbed a bunt single to start the rally, then a pair of Gophers walked with two outs to load the bases. A ground ball to third base sealed the Boilermaker shutout.
Falzon led the Boilermaker bats going 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run, while Lilley went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI.
Purdue scored five runs on six hits and three Gopher errors, while Minnesota posted four hits in the contest. Freshman Brooke Baker (8-1) picked up the win, facing just 16 batters in five innings of work, while Lyn Peyer (2-3) was charged with the loss after giving up three runs in three innings of action. Sophomore Diana LaRiva pitched the final two innings for the Boilermakers, striking out four of the nine batters she faced.
"Brooke Baker continues to improve with every outing," head coach Carol Bruggeman said. "She is throwing the ball with confidence and I am very proud of her efforts. Diana LaRiva has pitched against some really tough opponents lately, so it was good to see her get back on the mound and get some strike outs as well. Staci Falzon was definitely the hitter of the game with a big double and RBI single. She did what a designated player is supposed to do, and that is to get up there, swing the bat and get some hits. In my opinion, she was the difference in the game, making a lot of things happen for us on offense."
The Boilermakers return to action Wednesday afternoon, when they take on Saint Mary's (CA) and Nevada in a double header.