Feb. 25, 2005
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Two runs in non-traditional fashion gave the Boilermaker softball team all it needed to top Bradley (0-2) to open the Frost Classic on Friday. Purdue tallied two runs on four hits and pitcher Diana LaRiva struck out nine Braves en route to the complete game shutout.
The Boilermakers took down the Braves in order to open the game, then drew four walks to score a run in the bottom of the inning. Junior Staci Falzon (Carlsbad, Calif.) picked up a lead-off walk. Senior Andrea Hillsey (White Lake, Mich.) and sophomore DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) reached on a pair of one-out walks to load the bases. A fielder's choice kept the bases full, but stopped Falzon from scoring. Senior Shelli Messer then took a free pass to first and picked up an RBI on the way. Another fielder's choice ended the inning.
Bradley got its first base runner on a two-out walk in the second inning, but a looking strikeout kept her from advancing.
Purdue registered some two-out action of its own as Falzon send a laser up the middle. A grounder to the pitcher, however, left her stranded.
The Braves tallied their first hit on an infield single to lead-off the fourth. A sacrifice bunt moved her to second, but a strike out and a pop up kept her from scoring.
The Boilermakers tacked on another run via a walk, a base hit, a sacrifice and an error. Sophomore Katie Fortune (Kingwood, Texas) drew a lead-off walk. Pinch runner Tiffany Krcelich (Granger, Ind.) then moved to second on a sacrifice by sophomore Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.). Senior Katie Absher (Puyallup, Wash.) then singled to third baseman who overthrew the base, sending Absher to second and allowing Krcelich to score. A strikeout and pop up kept Absher from coming home.
Bradley threatened in the fifth as catcher Joanna Pettit drew a lead-off walk, then stole second and third. Pettit was left stranded after a pop up and two strikeouts.
Johnson and junior Tricia Lilley (North Canton, Ohio) posted back-to-back one-out singles in the bottom of the fifth, but couldn't convert the runners into runs on the scoreboard. Johnson sent a sharp shot to center field, then Lilley followed with a hard hit at the first baseman. A fielder's choice moved Johnson to third and saw Lilley out at second. A ground ball to the pitcher prevented Purdue from capitalizing.
The Braves garnered their second hit of the game with two outs in the sixth. Molly Bergeson gave Bradley a base runner after taking a hit by pitch. A fly out followed and then Peterson caught Bergeson trying to steal second. Brittany Mynsberge singled up the third baseline, but a ground ball to the shortstop made her stay on the bases shortlived.
Bradley made one final push in the seventh as Elizabeth Wilson sent a two-out single into short left field. A looking strikeout marked the final out of the game, sealing the Purdue shutout.
The four Boilermaker hits came at the hands of four different batters as Falzon, Johnson, Lilley and Absher each registered a base-hit. Junior Diana LaRiva (Tustin, Calif.) moved to 3-1 on the season with the victory. LaRiva struck out nine batters in the complete game effort. Molly Bergeson was charged with the loss after giving up the game-winning run in the first inning. Bergeson walked four Purdue players in two innings of action.
Purdue (7-3) returns to the diamond at 2:30 p.m. to take on Kent State (4-0).