April 18, 2004
Madison, Wis. - The Boilermaker softball team made a valiant effort at a comeback, but could not quite overcome an early 4-0 deficit against Wisconsin in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader. Purdue, which fell to the Badgers 4-2, will look to rebound in the night cap of the twin bill, which is slated to begin at 2:15 p.m.
The Boilermakers got off to a good start putting two runners in scoring position in the opening stanza, but a pair of ground outs kept the team scoreless. Sophomore Staci Falzon sent a lead-off single into left center, then moved to second on an Angela Knight sacrifice bunt. Sophomore Tricia Lilley joined her on the base paths with a sharp single to left. A ground ball moved Lilley to second, but another grounder stranded the runners.
Wisconsin got on the board in the bottom of the inning on two hits, an error and an intentional walk. A fielding error by the shortstop gave the Badgers their first base runner with one out, putting Athena Vasquez on first. Kris Zacher doubled to center field, pushing Vasquez over to third. Purdue then intentionally walked Boo Gillette to load the bases. Diana Consolmagno delivered on the RBI opportunity sending a solid single into right center and driving in two runs. Two plays later, Tara Hamilton lined into a double play to get the Boilermakers out of the inning.
Freshman Erika Peterson tallied a one-out double in the second to give Purdue another chance to score, but a strike out and a ground ball to short kept the Boilermakers from converting.
The Badgers added a third run in the second after loading the bases on a pair of hits and a walk. Kaitlin Reiss singled up the first base line, then moved to second on a Vasquez single up the middle. Zacher walked to fill the bases for Gilette, who single to left bringing in Reiss. Vasquez tried to score from second on the play, but was called out at home as left fielder Staci Falzon lasered a throw to the plate.
Wisconsin combined a fielder's choice and a hit for a run in the fourth. Vasquez reached on a fielder's choice, then scored on a two-out triple by Zacher.
The Boilermakers finally broke into the run column in the sixth, scoring two runs in the inning. Lilley walked to start the stanza, then moved to second on a DaQueta Johnson single to left. Sophomore Lauren Devich then hit into a fielder's choice which saw Lilley tagged out on her way to third. Peterson then drew a two-out walk to load the bases. Badger pitcher Katie Layne then walked pinch hitter Catherine Zaworski to give Purdue its first run. Wisconsin put in Sara Gonzales to face junior Shelli Messer, who patiently accepted a free base, cutting the deficit to 4-2. UW promptly yanked Gonzales in favor of Eden Brock, who got the Boilermakers to ground out to end the inning.
Purdue had one final chance in the seventh. Lilley posted a one-out single to left, but was out on a fielder's choice as Johnson reached base. A ground out sealed the Badger victory.
Lilley led the Purdue bats with a 2-for-3 performance, while five other Boilermakers contributed to the team's seven hit tally. Purdue scored two runs on seven hits, while committing two errors, as Wisconsin scored four runs on seven hits.
Freshman Brooke Baker (13-8) was charged with the loss after striking out three in the complete game effort. Katie Layne picked up the win after five and two thirds innings of work, while Eden Brock earned the save after an inning and a third of relief.
Purdue looks to even the series with a win in the night cap of the doubleheader.