March 17, 2004
MORAGA, Calif. - The Purdue softball team found itself on the short end of a 12-6 game against Nevada Wednesday afternoon. The Boilermakers fell behind 6-0 early after struggling defensively in the first three innings, and, despite a late inning rally, could not overcome the deficit.
Nevada scored a single run in the first combining a pair of errors and a ground ball to score. Stacy Mueller reached on a dropped ball by the first baseman, then moved to second on a ground out. With two outs, a fielding error by the shortstop allowed Mueller to score, putting the Wolf Pack on the board.
The Wolf Pack used two hits and two Boilermaker miscues to add another run in the second. Brittany Lorenzen and Carrie Mackey hit back to back one-out singles up the middle to give Nevada a pair of base runners. Sonia Rojo then reached on an errant throw by the pitcher, which brought Lorenzen in to score. A fielder's choice and fly ball ended the inning.
Nevada tacked on four more runs in the third on a trio of hits. Kristin Stith hit a lead-off double up the middle then Annie Stevens brought her around with a double to left. Lorenzen walked, then Rojo reached on an error by the shortstop, which allowed pinch runner Amanda Wise to score. Mueller followed with a double through the left side, scoring both runners before advancing to third when the third baseman dropped the throw from the relay man. A strike out got the Boilermakers out of the inning without further damage.
Purdue finally answered with a single run in the bottom of the inning. Freshman Erika Peterson hit a lead-off triple into right field then scored on a two-out single to short by junior Katie Absher. A strike out left Absher stranded.
The Wolf Pack added one run in each of the next two innings, In the fourth, a Stevens' single up the middle scored Jilian Hartfiel, who reached on a double to center and moved to third on a ground ball. In the fifth, the team used a walk, a hit-by-pitch and ground ball to put runners at second and third for Jamie Waldron, who delivered on the RBI opportunity with a sacrifice fly to center.
Nevada continued to find offensive success adding three runs on two hits in the sixth. Cindy Elkins reached on a fielder's choice then moved to second on a Carrie Mackey single to left. Rojo walked to load the bases, then Mueller doubled to left center to clear the bases and force a Purdue rally.
The Boilermakers answered the call with three runs in the bottom of the inning to extend the game. Absher singled to the pitcher, then Lauren Devich followed with a single up the middle. Both runners moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Redshirt sophomore Kristen Schell then notched a pinch-hit single into right field scoring both runners, before Staci Falzon reentered to run. Sophomore Becky Stone kept the rally going with a single down the first base line, then junior Shelli Messer scored Falzon from second with a single up the middle. Pitcher Robyn Ford-Feitz then entered the game and got Purdue to ground out to end the inning.
The Wolf Pack tallied one more run in the bottom of the seventh on a pair of singles and an error. Hartfiel singled through the left side and stole second. Stevens then tallied a single into left field, moving Hartfiel to third, but a fielding error by the left fielder allowed her to score.
Purdue looked to rally in the bottom of the seventh and managed a pair of runs before leaving the bases full. Freshman Catherine Zaworski drew the pinch-hit walk, then advanced to second on an errant throw by the third baseman on a Katie Absher fielder's choice. Devich then joined the duo on base with a walk. Ford-Feitz then walked Andrea Hillsey to give the Boilermakers a free run. Ford-Feitz was promptly relieved by Judith Van Kampen, who then gave up a single to Falzon, which scored Absher from third. A pop up and a foul out left the bases loaded sealing the Wolf Pack win.
Absher and Peterson posted two hits each as the Boilermakers scored six runs on nine hits. Nevada managed 12 runs on 11 hits in the contest. Tiffany Hoeft (7-3) picked up the win, while freshman Brooke Baker was charged with the loss, despite striking out seven in the complete game effort.
The Boilermakers will look to regroup before taking on Saint Mary's at 3:30 p.m.