April 30, 2004
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermaker softball team made a valiant effort to come-from-behind, but could not overcome a six-run deficit in falling to Ohio State 6-4 Friday night.
Through five innings, the Boilermakers and the Buckeyes each had tallied two hits to no avail. Senior Angela Knight singled in the first for Purdue, then sophomore Tricia Lilley led off the fourth with a base hit. Combined the teams had left nine runners on base, but that all changed in the sixth inning.
Ohio State broke onto the scoreboard in the sixth with six runs on five hits, while hitting throughout the order. The Buckeyes loaded the bases in the sixth on a trio of hits, and scored the game's first run with a one-out walk. Megan Schwab led off the inning with a single to left, then Jamee Juarez followed with a single up the left field line. After a pop up, the Buckeyes put pitcher Kristi DeVries in to pinch hit. The hurler responded with a single up the middle to load the bases. The Boilermakers walked the next two batters, giving the Buckeyes a free pair of runs.
Purdue switched pitchers looking to stop the damage, but it was not to be as a double by Billie Jo Carder scored two more runs for OSU. With Carder at second and Natalie Hales, who had reached via walk, on third, Karisa Evans came to the plate. Evans single to left, scoring Hales, before a ground out and fly out ended the inning.
The Boilermakers answered with two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Knight led off with an infield single, then Lilley was hit by a pitch to join her on base. Freshman Erika Peterson drew a walk to load the bases for junior Shelli Messer. Messer reached on an error by the shortstop, which allowed Knight and Lilley to score. The next batter popped into a double play, then a strike out left Peterson stranded at second.
OSU put a runner on in the seventh as Jamee Juarez doubled to left center, but sophomore Diana LaRiva struck out the next two Buckeyes and got the third batter to pop out, giving the Boilermakers a chance at the come-back win.
Sophomore Staci Falzon kept the hope alive with a two-out double to left. Knight sent a triple to the warning track in left to score Falzon. Lilley then posted an infield single and advanced to second on a throwing error by the second base, as Knight scored. A ground ball, however, cut short the Purdue rally.
Ohio State scored six runs on eight hits, while committing three errors. The Boilermakers put up four runs on six hits, led by Knight's 3-for-4 day at the plate. The outing was the senior's third 3-for-4 performance in as many games this week. Lilley went 2-for-3 with a run scored.
Devries earned the win after striking out four for the Buckeyes in six and two-thirds innings of work, while Juarez picked up her first save of the year, recording the game's final out. Freshman Brooke Baker (16-11) took the loss for the Boilermakers.
Purdue (30-23, 3-12 Big Ten) looks to even the score with OSU (31-20, 6-9 Big Ten) in a rematch at noon on Saturday.