Feb. 11, 2005
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Purdue opened its 2005 with a 2-1 victory over Kansas on Day 1 of the Hilton Classic on Friday. The Boilermakers posted two runs on seven hits, including three for extra bases, while allowing three hits.
Senior Andrea Hillsey (White Lake, Mich.) made her presence known in her first game back after suffering a season-ending ACL injury a year ago with a two-run shot in the first inning. Hillsey drove in freshman Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.), who reached on a fielder's choice and advanced to second on a wild pitch, setting up the RBI opportunity. Juniors Tricia Lilley (North Canton, Ohio) and Staci Falzon (Carlsbad, Calif.) also posted hits in the inning.
The Jayhawks got on the scoreboard in the bottom of third as Jessica Moppin hit a lead-off home run to right field. Elle Pottorf followed with a bunt single and advanced to second on a sacrifice, but was left stranded.
The Boilermakers put two runners on in the fourth, but couldn't manage to score. Sophomore DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) sent a one-out bloop single into right, then pinch runner Tiffany Krcelich (Granger, Ind.) reached third on a Shelli Messer double to left center. A strike out and a ground ball left both ducks on the pond.
Purdue threatened again in the fifth, loading the bases but again coming up empty. Falzon singled up the third base line to start things off, then advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Hall. Hillsey reached on a fielding error by the pitcher, then Lilley hit into a fielder's choice which saw Falzon caught on her way to third. Sophomore Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) was hit by a pitch to fill the bases, but a ground out to the shortstop ended the inning.
Senior Katie Absher (Puyallup, Wash.) tallied her first career extra base hit with a two-out double in the sixth, but it was to no avail as a strikeout left her aboard.
Kansas had one last chance in the bottom of the seventh, putting runners on second and third on a single up the middle, a pair of fielder's choices and a stolen base. A grounder to third, however, sealed the Boilermaker victory.
Falzon went 2-for-4 at the plate, while five other players contributed to the offensive effort.
Sophomore Brooke Baker (Schererville, Ind.) struck out four Jayhawks in the complete game effort.