March 19, 2004
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Purdue softball team gave fans their money's worth, pulling out an 8-5 10-inning battle with Pittsburgh Friday morning, and ending the game on a three-run walk-off home run by junior Shelli Messer.
The round-tripper by Messer capped a game, which stood scoreless after six innings. Both teams scored three runs in the seventh, sending the game to extra time. After a scoreless eighth, the teams traded pairs of runs in the ninth, before Messer clinched the game for Purdue in the bottom of the 10th.
"I am really proud of our team's perseverence," head coach Carol Bruggeman said. "We found a way to win in, and what better way to do that than with a walk-off home run."
The Boilermakers put three aboard with two outs in the bottom of the second on a double and a pair of walks, but could not convert them into runs. Sophomore Staci Falzon picked up the two-bagger with a fly ball to left, then she was joined by junior Shelli Messer and freshman Katie Fortune, but a pop up to the catcher kept the game scoreless.
The Panthers lit up the scoreboard with three runs on two hits and an error in the top of the seventh. The team put its lead runner on when Beth Gill reached on a fielding error by the shortstop. Gill then advanced on a sacrifice bunt. With two outs, the Boilermakers intentionally walked Francesca DiMaria. Joey Scarf then sent a single up the middle and advanced to third on the throw as both base runners scored. Casey Pickard followed with a double up the middle, driving in Scarf. Relief pitcher Brooke Baker struck out the next batter to end the inning.
The Boilermakers answered in the bottom of the inning with three runs of their own. Falzon singled to start the inning, then moved to second on a wild pitch. Messer then doubled up the middle, bringing her home. Sophomore Lauren Devich then tabbed a pinch hit single, advancing Messer to third. A ground out put Devich on second with senior Angela Knight coming to bat. Knight then sent a two-run single up the third baseline and advanced to second on the throw home. A pop up and strike out sent the game to extra stanzas.
After a scoreless eighth inning, the Panthers added a pair in the ninth on a trio of hits. Jan O'Donnell was placed on second due to the international tie breaker rule, then advanced to third on a ground ball and scored on a Heather Conner pinch hit single up the middle. DiMaria duplicated Connor's effort, but advanced to second on the throw, moving pinch runner Morgan Howard to third. Scarf then singled to center field, scoring Howard, but DiMaria was thrown out at the plate trying to score.
In Purdue's half of the ninth, Katie Fortune was placed on second, but didn't stay there long as freshman Erika Peterson jacked her first career home run over the left field fence on the first pitch she saw from relief pitcher Megan Bostick. A pop up and two fly balls to the outfield left two runners stranded to send the game to the deciding 10th inning.
The Panthers went down 1-2-3 in the 10th, setting up Messer's game-winning heroics. Kristen Schell was placed on second, then advanced to third on a Catherine Zaworski fielder's choice. Zaworski, who subbed into left field in the ninth, then stole second, before Messer took the fateful swing.
Purdue scored eight runs on 11 hits, while committing one error, as Pittsburgh managed five runs on 10 hits, while posting one miscue.
Messer led the Boilermaker bats going 2-for-4 with two runs and four RBI. Falzon and Lilley also had multiple hits in the contest.
Diana LaRiva reentered the game with two outs in the 10th, after pitching the opening three stanzas, and struck out the final Pittsburgh batter to pick up the win. LaRiva struck out four in the game, while Brooke Baker k'ed seven in relief. Bostick was charged with the loss after pitching two innings of relief.
The Boilermakers have a few hours off after the three-hour marathon game before taking on the host Sacramento State Hornets at 3 p.m. (PST).