April 28, 2004
DAYTON, Ohio - A 6-1 win over Dayton clinched the Purdue softball team a sweep of the Flyers and the program's eighth 30-win season in program history. Sophomore Diana LaRiva struck out 14 in the complete game victory, while senior Angela Knight posted a 3-for-4 day at the plate. The Boilermakers return to action at 4 p.m. on Friday when they play host to Ohio State.
The Boilermakers used a double steal in the first to score the game's first run. Knight posted a one-out single to left, then moved to third on a Shelli Messer single to right. Messer then took off for second, getting the Flyers to bite, as Knight made her way home. A strike out left Messer stranded.
Purdue added three more runs in the second, scoring on back-to-back doubles to right. Freshman Erika Peterson drew a lead-off walk, then pinch runner Jamie Dum moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Lauren Devich. Freshman Katie Fortune then singled to right, scooting Dum to third. The Boilermakers then attempted a squeeze play as Catherine Zaworski bunted into the fielder's choice that saw Dum tagged out sliding into home. Sophomore Staci Falzon then doubled to right, driving in Fortune from second. With runners at second and third, Knight delivered on the RBI opportunity with another two-bagger to right. A pop up to short ended the stanza.
Dayton combined two hits and a sacrifice for a run in the bottom of the second. Spencer Izor led off with a double to left, then advanced to third on a Anne Crecelius sacrifice. Tamsyn Kellough then sent a bloop single just inside the chalk line right field to drive in the run. A pop out and strikeout brought the Boilermakers to bat.
LaRiva sat down the six batters in order, five via strikeout, before Purdue padded its lead with another pair of runs in the fifth. Sophomore Tricia Lilley started things off with a single to center, then moved to second on a Messer sacrifice. Redshirt sophomore Kristen Schell then reached on a fielder's choice, which saw all runners remain safe. An Erika Peterson single to right, scored Lilley and pushed pinch runner Katie Absher to second. Both runners moved into scoring position with a double steal. A pass ball moved Peterson to third, but saw Absher out at the plate. A double to right by Devich drove in Peterson for the team's sixth run.
The Boilermakers put two runners on again in the seventh. Messer led off with an infield single, then pinch hitter Becky Stone singled to right. Three straight fielder's choices kept the team from scoring.
Knight led the Purdue offense with a 3-for-4 day at the plate, while Falzon and Messer each tallied two hits.
LaRiva (14-12) struck out 14 batters including the final three she faced in the complete game effort, while Melissa Myher (11-16) was tabbed for the loss for Dayton.
The Boilermakers return to action at 4 p.m. on Friday when they play host to Ohio State.