March 5, 2004
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Boilermaker softball team used another late-inning come-from-behind effort to seal a 3-2 victory over Illinois-Chicago Friday evening. Down 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh, Purdue used a pair of RBI singles from freshman DaQueta Johnson and junior Andrea Hillsey to drive in the winning runs.
The Flames got on the board first with a pair of hits in the opening stanza. Cameron Astiazaran posted a lead-off single to right then came around to score on an Amanda Rivera two-out double to right center.
Purdue answered in the bottom of the inning, combining a walk, a sacrifice and a double for a run. Senior Angela Knight walked to start things off, then moved to second on a Katie Absher sacrifice bunt. Sophomore Tricia Lilley then doubled down the third baseline to drive in the run and tie the game at 1-1. A ground out and pop up ended the inning.
The teams traded empty innings and stranded seven base runners each until the seventh inning. Purdue threatened with runners at second and third in the fourth, but could not convert. A Kristen Schell walk, Katie Fortune single through the left side along with a wild pitch set up the RBI opportunity, but a strike out ended the rally.
UIC had a runner on third in the fifth after a single, a steal and a deep fly ball, but also could not make good on the opportunity.
The sixth inning also brought a missed opportunity for the Boilermakers as a pair of singles and a sacrifice bunt put a runner on third, but a fly out ended the chance.
Everything changed in the seventh with extra innings staring the teams in the face.
Illinois-Chicago struck first on two hits and an error. Michelle Miller reached on a one-out slap-single to the pitcher, then Sara Hernandez joined her on base on a fielding error by the second baseman. Amanda Rivera hit into a fielder's choice, putting Miller out at third. Alycia Creese made good on the RBI chance, with a single down the first base line, scoring Hernandez from second. A ground out stopped the Flames with just one run.
It all came down to the bottom of the seventh for the Boilermakers. Knight led off with a walk, then Absher advanced her with another sacrifice bunt. A passed ball with two outs moved her to third as Johnson came to bat. The freshman tied the game with a single up the middle. Senior Cheryl Buergler came in to pinch run for Johnson, then stole second, setting up RBI time for Hillsey. The All-American posted the game-winning RBI for the second straight night with a single into the right center gap.
UIC scored two runs on nine hits and an error, while Purdue put up three runs on eight hits and a miscue. Lilley and Hillsey both went 2-for-4 on the day with an RBI, while Knight crossed the plate for two of the team's three runs.
Freshman Brooke Baker (4-1) picked up the win for one and a third innings of relief for Diana LaRiva who exited the game after facing 23 batters. Chelsey Barclay was tabbed with the loss.
"I think this team is really starting to show a lot of character and a lot of heart," head coach Carol Bruggeman said. "We never give up and always believe we can win the game. Both Diana and Brooke pitched very well in their roles. Diana ran out of gas a little bit, but she gave us everything she had, and Brooke came in and pitched the best game I think she has pitched in a Purdue uniform. Then DaQueta Johnson and Andrea Hillsey stepped up big when we needed them to. It was definitely a dramatic way to win a game, but I am very proud of our team getting a regional win."
Purdue (9-4) returns to action at 11 a.m. Saturday against Mercer.