Feb. 13, 2005
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Despite a valiant come-back effort, the Boilermaker softball team dropped its first game of the season with a 7-6 loss to Arkansas to wrap up the Hilton Classic on Sunday. Senior Andrea Hillsey finished the weekend with a .750 average after going 4-for-4 on the day against the Lady Razorbacks.
The Boilermakers recorded the game's first run in the bottom of the first inning on two hits and a pair of walks. Junior Staci Falzon (Carlsbad, Calif.) started things off with a single up the middle, then senior Andrea Hillsey (White Lake, Mich.) followed with a single to right. Sophomore DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) walked to load the bases. A fielder's choice put junior Tricia Lilley (North Canton, Ohio) aboard, but stopped Falzon from scoring. Sophomore Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) came to the plate determined to pick up the RBI, fighting through several foul balls, before taking a walk to drive in the run. A strikeout left three runners stranded.
In the third inning, junior Mindy O'Malley tied the game for the Lady Backs with a shot to right center, which kicked off a series of events that culminated in a run. After Johnson attempted a diving catch, the centerfielder mishandled the ball allowing O'Malley to advance to third and score on the throw home. A pair of ground balls ended the inning.
Purdue put runners aboard in the third and the fourth, but couldn't manufacture any runs. Hillsey doubled to center in the third but a ground ball and strikeout stranded her. Redshirt junior Kristen Schell (San Diego, Calif.)singled up the middle in the fourth, then pinch runner Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.) advanced on a sacrifice by junior Lauren Devich (Bloomington, Ind.). Sophomore Catherine Zaworski (Prospect Heights, Ill.) was hit by a pitch to put two runners on, but a ground out stopped the rally.
The Boilermakers regained the lead in the fifth with two runs on two hits. Senior Katie Absher (Puyallup, Wash.) posted a lead-off single to right center, before Hillsey joined her on base with a single up the middle. A ground out advanced the runners to second and third with Lilley coming to bat. The shortstop made good on the RBI opportunity with a sacrifice fly to right, scoring Absher and pushing Hillsey to third. A wild pitch from Valanna Lyons careened off the catcher's mitt to the backstop, allowing Hillsey to score. A strikeout again ended the inning.
Arkansas got back one run in the sixth on three hits. Senior Ashley Carter hit a one-out single to left, then freshman Dayna Huckabee followed with a single up the middle. Sophomore Rachel LeMaster then singled through the left side advancing Carter to third and allowing her to score on the throw home. A ground ball and strike out got Purdue out of the stanza.
Junior Becky Stone (Belleville, Ind.) got on board in the sixth via a single up the third baseline. Pinch runner Tiffany Krcelich (Granger, Ind.) stole second, but was left stranded.
The Lady Backs took the lead in the seventh with five runs on five hits and two errors. Sarah Topham reached on an error by the shortstop and advanced to second on the throw. Pinch runner Zenobia Davison moved to third on a sacrifice, before a home run to left by pinch hitter BJ Southmayd brought her in to score. Kallie Foglesong then singled into right field, prompting a Purdue pitching change. Starter Diana LaRiva reentered the game with one out and Ashley Carter coming to the plate. Carter singled through the right side and advanced to second on the throw, pushing Foglesong to third. Dayna Huckabee followed with a single into center field and went to second on the throw as Forglesong scored. With runners at first and third, Rachel LeMaster singled to right, scoring Carter and moving Foglesong to third. LeMaster then stole second and Huckabee scored on a throwing error by the catcher. A strike out and fly out got Purdue out of the inning.
Down 7-3, Purdue showed resolve, prompting an offensive barrage of its own. Hillsey started things off with a one-out single to right. Johnson followed with a single past the shortstop, bumping Hillsey over to third. A ground out towards second base scored Hillsey and advanced pinch runner Jamie Dum (Indianapolis, Ind.) to second. Peterson walked, before Schell send a double into left center, scoring both runners. Unfortunately for Purdue it was too little too late as a ground out sealed the Arkansas win.
Hillsey was an offensive force for the Boilermakers going 4-for-4 at the plate with a double and three runs scored. Schell also posted multiple hits with a 2-for-3 performance.
LaRiva struck out six in four and two thirds innings of work. Freshman Melissa Burns (Miami, Fla.) K'ed two in an inning and a third of relief, but sophomore Brooke Baker (Schererville, Ind.) was charged with the loss after an inning of action.
Lyons earned the victory for Arkansas after striking out eight.
The Boilermakers (3-1) return to action on Friday, Feb. 18 when they take on Nicholls State to open the Louisiana Classic in Lafayette, La.