April 17, 2004
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - Sophomore Staci Falzon, who had not hit a home run entering the season, delivered her third of the year, a solo shot in the bottom of the 10th, to garner Purdue a 2-1 victory over Minnesota Saturday. The win is the Boilermakers' first of the conference season. The team now travels to Madison, Wis., for a Sunday doubleheader with Wisconsin.
The Gophers loaded the bases with one out in the first on a pair of walks and a single through the left side, but it was all for naught as a caught foul and a ground out stranded the runners.
Purdue also tallied its first base runner in the first as senior Angela Knight singled to left, but she was left on the base paths by a strike out and a ground out.
Minnesota put runners in scoring position in the second, but again it was nothing doing. Lindsey Erickson walked then moved to second on a Rene Konderik fielder's choice. Both runners moved into scoring position on a sacrifice bunt, but a pair of strikeouts ended the rally.
The Boilermakers answered in the bottom of the inning putting a runner aboard on a Kristen Schell single to short. A fielder's choice put freshman Erika Peterson on base, but stopped pinch runner Jamie Dum on her way to second. A ground ball wrapped up the stanza.
In the fourth inning, both teams put a runner on board, yet the game remained scoreless. Stefanie Watt singled for the Gophers, while freshman DaQueta Johnson singled to center field for the Boilermakers. Both were left stranded.
The Gophers capitalized on a Purdue miscue in the fifth to put the game's first run on the board. UM loaded the bases on back-to-back two-out singles and a walk. Valerie Alston hit a bloop single just inside the left field line, then Hailee Nanchy followed with a single up to center. Rachel Keeney joined them on a walk, before Erickson drove in the run as she reached on an errant catch by the first baseman. A looking strikeout left the three runners on base.
Purdue tied it up in the bottom of the sixth, scoring one run on two hits and an error. Falzon singled to start the inning, but was called out on her way to second on a fielder's choice by Knight. Knight then stole second opening first base for Johnson, who was hit by a pitch with two outs. Sophomore Lauren Devich made good on the RBI opportunity with a solid hit off the corner of third base. The ball rolled into the outfield allowing Knight to score, then the left fielder was charged with a throwing error which let Devich and pinch runner Catherine Zaworski advance to second and third. A fly ball to left ended the inning.
Minnesota put a runner on base in the seventh with a one-out walk, but a ground out and line out kept the team from converting.
The Boilermakers had a chance to win it in the bottom of the seventh as junior Shelli Messer sent a two-out triple into right center. A fly ball to left, however, sent the game to extra innings.
Erickson singled to short to give Minnesota a base runner in the eighth, but two fly balls and a caught stealing brought Purdue to bat. The Boilermakers went down 1-2-3, extending the game to a ninth inning.
The Gophers hit back-to-back one-out singles in the ninth, sending sophomore Diana LaRiva to the mound in relief. Mitchell singled to left center, then Megan Higginbotham followed with a single to left. LaRiva then struck out the next two batters to end Minnesota's hope for a score.
Devich tallied a lead-off single in Purdue's half of the ninth but was caught stealing for the inning's second out before a ground ball sent the game another extra stanza.
A two-out walk gave Minnesota a runner in the 10th, but a fly out to left brought up the Boilermakers for the final time.
UM pitcher Piper Marten struck out the first two Purdue batters in the 10th, but Falzon saved the game for the Boilermakers with a solo home run to center field, her third of the year.
Falzon and Devich each posted a pair of hits for Purdue, as the Boilermakers scored two runs on eight hits. Minnesota scored one run on seven hits, while committing two errors in the contest.
Freshman Brooke Baker struck out eight Gophers in eight and a third innings on the mound, before being relieved by LaRiva, who garnered the win after striking out three of the six batters she faced. Marten (17-8) was charged with the loss after K'ing seven Purdue batters.
The Boilermakers (24-18, 1-7) garnered their first Big Ten win of the season with the victory over the Gophers. The team also moved to 4-2 on the season in extra-inning contests.