Feb. 12, 2005
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - The Boilermaker softball team continued its offensive success against Utah Valley State on Saturday en route to a 4-1 win and the first 3-0 start in program history.
Purdue put runners aboard in the first and third innings, but could not turn them into tallies on the scoreboard. Senior Andrea Hillsey (White Lake, Mich.) registered a two-out single in the first, but was left stranded by a fly ball. Senior Shelli Messer (Greenfield, Ind.) tallied a two-out bloop single in the third, but a ground ball kept her from coming in to score.
The Wolverines scored first with a single run in the bottom of the first. Rachel Hartgrove doubled to right center to open the stanza, then Katie Welling joined her on base with a two-out walk. Amanda Kendzion took advantage of the RBI opportunity with a single to center, scoring Hartgrove. A ground ball got Purdue out of the inning.
The Boilermakers answered in the fourth as Hillsey got things started with a bunt single. Hillsey was caught stealing after a fly out, bringing up sophomore DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) who walked. Junior Staci Falzon (Carlsbad, Calif.) then tapped a long ball off the right field wall for a triple, driving in Johnson from first. Sophomore Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) followed with a single up the middle to bring Falzon home. A fly ball to left wrapped up the inning.
Two more runs came in the fifth on a pair of hits and an error. Freshman Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.) reached base on a two-out fielding error by the second baseman. Hall then scored on a Hillsey double to center. Junior Tricia Lilley (North Canton, Ohio) then doubled up the third baseline, driving in Hillsey. Johnson joined Lilley on base via walk, but a long fly ball to left stopped the offensive output.
Hillsey led Purdue at the plate, going 3-for-4 with one run and one RBI. Peterson went 2-for-3 with one RBI.
Sophomore Brooke Baker (Schererville, Ind.) allowed just two hits, while striking out five in five innings of work. Freshman Melissa Burns (Miami, Fla.) picked up the save after pitching two innings of relief and striking out five of the seven batters she faced. Jackie Roberts took the loss for the Wolverines after tossing four and two thirds innings.
"We didn't come out of the chute as strong on offense today," head coach Carol Bruggeman said. "Their pitcher had a little different speed than we were used to, but we made some adjustments and had some key two-out hits, and that was the difference. Melissa Burns also pitched great in relief in her first action of the year."
The Boilermakers return to action at 11 a.m. (EST) on Sunday, when they take on the Arkansas Lady Razorbacks to wrap up the Hilton Classic.