April 20, 2004
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A seven-run first inning propelled the Boilermakers to a 9-0 mercy-rule win over IUPUI in Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader. Purdue looks to pick up a sweep in the series with a win in the night cap, which is slated to begin at 4:30 p.m.
Purdue put an offensive show tallying 10 hits in the game. IUPUI managed just two hits while committing five defensive errors.
The Jaguars got the game's first base runner with a two-out walk in the first. Stacey Speshyock took the free base, then advanced to third on a pair of wild pitches, but IUPUI could not convert, instead ending the inning with a ground out.
The Boilermakers' offensive barrage began with a lead-off triple to left center by sophomore Staci Falzon. Senior Angela Knight picked up the game's first RBI with a double down the left field line. Sophomore Tricia Lilley followed with a single to short, which moved Knight to third. Freshman Erika Peterson then sent a single through the left side of the infield, pushing Lilley to second and scoring Knight.
Junior Shelli Messer then reached on a botched out on a sacrifice bunt, which scooted Peterson to third and brought Lilley home. Messer then swiped second, putting two runners in scoring position for sophomore Lauren Devich, who filled the bases with an infield single. Junior Katie Absher then reached on a fielder's choice as the Jaguars got Peterson at home. Sophomore Becky Stone then hit into another fielder's choice, but IUPUI missed the out at second, allowing Devich and Messer to score. Falzon came up for the second time in the inning and supplied an RBI single to center field, which scored Absher from third and saw Stone come home on an error by the catcher. A ground out finally ended the inning.
"It was a great game from an offensive standpoint," head coach Carol Bruggeman said. "Ten hits in four innings is a good day. We also did a great job on the base paths with our running and our slides. I really liked our mentality today."
Purdue put another ball in the outfield as Peterson tallied a one-out double in the second, but a pair of ground outs left her stranded.
IUPUI recorded its first hit with a short infield single in the third, but the batter Jennifer Owens left base early on the next play, emptying the bases. A ground out wrapped up the stanza.
The Boilermakers tacked on two more runs in the third on three hits and two Jaguar errors. Redshirt sophomore Kristen Schell doubled to right center to lead off the inning, then pinch runner Catherine Zaworski moved to third as Absher reached on an error by the first baseman. Stone then took a strike helping set up a potential double steal for Purdue. The catcher threw to second to try to keep Absher from stealing and sent the ball into center field allowing Zaworski to score. Stone then singled down the left field line, moving Absher to third. Knight then posted an RBI infield single, bringing Absher in. A fielder's choice and a tricky hot box play ended the inning.
IUPUI had to score in the top of the fifth to extend the game and managed to put a runner on base with an Amanda Bowman one-out single up the middle. A sacrifice moved her to second but a ground out sealed the Purdue win.
Falzon, Knight and Peterson each tallied a pair of hits, as seven different Boilermakers contributed to the offensive effort.
Freshman Brooke Baker (14-8) struck out three batters in the complete game win, while allowing just two hits. Devan Craig (6-11) was charged with the loss for IUPUI.
The Boilermakers look to extend their current win streak to three games with a win in the night cap, which has been delayed half an hour due to rain.