After two and a half innings of no-hit softball, the Boilermakers broke through in the bottom of the third as sophomore Staci Falzon sent a one-out double into center field. Sophomore Tricia Lilley joined her on base as she was hit by a pitch with two outs. Falzon then stole third, setting up an RBI opportunity for freshman Erika Peterson. Peterson delivered with a single to center, scoring Falzon and moving Lilley to third. Purdue then pulled off a double steal, advancing Peterson to second, which allowed Lilley to swipe home. A pop fly stopped the rally.
IUPUI posted its lone hit of the game in the top of the fourth as Whitnie Darvell sent a single into left field. Darvell, however, was thrown out by the left fielder when trying to extend the hit into a double. A pair of fly outs kept the Jaguars scoreless.
Purdue threatened in the bottom of the inning as sophomore Lauren Devich singled to start the stanza then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt and ground out. A strike out left her stranded.
The Boilermakers added four runs on five hits in the fifth. Falzon got things started with a lead-off double to left center. A sacrifice bunt moved her to third for Lilley, who picked up the RBI with a single to short. Pinch runner Jamie Dum stole second then moved to third on a Peterson single to right. Junior Shelli Messer then hit a double off the right center wall, scoring Dum and pinch runner Cheryl Buergler. IUPUI brought Kristina Stanley into the game to face the Boilermakers with one out and a runner on second. She managed a pop up before allowing redshirt sophomore Kristen Schell a single to center, which drove in Messer. A ground ball to third base got the Jaguars out of the inning.
IUPUI got a base runner in the sixth as Jennifer Owens reached on an error, but that was nullified as the next batter lined into a double play. A ground out brought the Boilermakers to bat.
Freshman Katie Fortune, who entered the game at first base in the sixth, drew a lead-off walk in the bottom of the inning. Falzon then singled to left, before advancing to second on an error by the left fielder. With runners at second and third, freshman Catherine Zaworski drew a pinch hit walk. Peterson picked up the RBI as the Jaguars walked in a run with one out. Messer clinched the run-rule victory with an infield single, which scored Falzon.
Falzon went 3-for-3 in the game, and 5-for-6 on the day, with a pair of doubles. Peterson and Messer each tallied a pair of hits in the contest, as Purdue scored eight runs on 10 hits.
"Staci Falzon is on a roll," head coach Carol Bruggeman said. "She has been a force in the lead-off spot for us. I am really excited to see that, but we really hit pretty well throughout the lineup. The first two innings that pitcher's changeup was a different than we had seen in a while which caught us off guard, but we made some really good adjustments offensively in the last few innings. Erika Peterson also had a big day for us in the clean up spot. It is good to see other people, including Shelli Messer, step up.
Sophomore Diana LaRiva (13-11) threw a complete game one-hitter, while striking out three Jaguar batters. Angelica Espinosa (6-11) was charged with the loss after four and a third innings of work.
"Diana did what she had to do today," Bruggeman said. "She may not have had as many strikeouts as usual but she did what she had to do to get the batters out. She controlled the hitters well, which is all you can ask of a pitcher when they aren't having their best day. I am proud of her and her effort."
The Boilermakers return to action on Friday for a 4 p.m. game against Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich.
"We have struggled the last few weeks to get mid-week games in because of the weather," Bruggeman said. "Just to play gives our hitters more at-bats, our infield more chances to work together and our pitchers a chance to work on some things. It is not only important to play an instate and win, but to be able to play together and generate some confidence going into the weekend."