April 4, 2004
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermaker softball team limited No. 9 Michigan to just two runs in the night cap of Sunday's twin bill, but could not manage to score themselves, dropping the game 2-0 to the Wolverines.
Michigan continued to take advantage of the strong winds in Game 2 of the doubleheader, as Jennifer Olds sent a solo home run over the right center wall to lead off the second inning. Jessica Merchant then doubled to center and Nicole Motycka walked, an error on a fielder's choice loaded the bases, but another fielder's choice and a ground out kept the Wolverines to just one run in the stanza.
Both teams were relatively quiet, until Michigan managed another run in the fourth. Monica Schock tripled off the center field wall, then scored on a Angie Churchill double down the left field line. A ground out ended the inning.
Purdue put its first runner aboard in the fifth on a trio of one-out singles by junior Shelli Messer and freshmen DaQueta Johnson and Erika Peterson. Johnson, who returned to the field after missing 15 games due to injury, hit a strong single up the middle to start the rally. Messer followed with a single up the first base line, then Peterson loaded the bases with a base-hit through the right side. A fielder's choice and ground out kept the Michigan shutout alive.
The Wolverines managed a pair of hits in the fifth, but a fielder's choice and two ground outs kept the team from adding to its lead.
The Boilermakers tallied one hit in each of their last two innings, but couldn't convert them into runs. Knight posted a lead-off single to third base in the sixth, then Messer singled through the left side in seventh, but both runners were left stranded.
Michigan scored two runs on six hits, while Purdue managed five hits in the contest. Nicole Motycka (11-3) picked up the win after striking out five Boilermakers, while freshman Brooke Baker (13-3) was charged with just her third loss of the season.
Messer led the Purdue bats with a 2-for-3 performance, while Knight, Johnson and Peterson all contributed a base hit.
"The second game was a very well played game," head coach Carol Bruggeman said. "Brooke did a nice job on the mound. The two mistakes she made, they scored on and that is a sign of a good team. Michigan was tough on defense when they had to be. They were just a better team than we were today. But, it is a long Big Ten season, this is just two games, and we hopefully have some of our best softball left."
The Boilermakers (22-12, 0-2 Big Ten) return to action Tuesday for a 4 p.m. doubleheader at Notre Dame.