March 5, 2005
MARIETTA, Ga. - Seven different Boilermaker players tallied hits as Purdue registered a 6-3 victory over Saint Louis to wrap up the Buzz Classic Saturday night. Senior Shelli Messer and sophomore DaQueta Johnson launched home runs in the effort as freshman Melissa Burns earned the complete game victory on the mound. The Boilermakers (11-8) return to the field on Thursday when they take on Villanova to kick off the Speedline Invitational in Clearwater, Fla.
"I thought we hit the ball through the lineup extremely well in this game," head coach Carol Bruggeman said. "Everyone contributed and obviously the two home runs gave us a big lift. When we get it clicking on all cylinders this team is going to be fun to watch. I thought we took a step in the right direction tonight."
The Boilermakers struck first with a pair of two-out runs in the bottom of the first. Sophomore DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) hit her third home run in as many games with a two-run bomb over the left field fence. Johnson drove in senior Andrea Hillsey (White Lake, Mich.), who posted a two-out single to the shortstop.
The Billikens got a base runner in the second stanza as Ashlee Heady singled into short right field. Allison Appenfeller sent a two-out single into right field, moving Heady to third. Freshman pitcher Melissa Burns (Miami, Fla.) struck out the next better looking to get out of the jam.
Junior Becky Stone (Belleville, Ill.) gave the Boilermakers a base runner in the bottom of the inning as the pitcher dropped a two-out pop up. A ground out, however, left her stranded.
Purdue tacked on two more runs in the fifth on a hit and a walk. Sophomore Jamie Dum (Indianapolis, Ind.) drew a one-out walk then scored on a home run to left by senior Shelli Messer (Greenfield, Ind.).
Saint Louis broke onto the scoreboard in the sixth with three run on three hits. Christy Ernst started things off with a single toward second base. She then moved to third on a ground ball and a Hoffarth single to second. Another ground ball scored Ernst and moved Hoffarth to second. Ashley Williams made it a one-run game with a two-run homer over the right field fence.
The Boilermakers got two runs back in the bottom of the inning on three hits, a passed ball and a wild pitch. Junior Tricia Lilley (North Canton, Ohio) reached on a bunt single, then moved to third on a passed ball and a wild pitch. Junior Staci Falzon (Carlsbad, Calif.) then walked and stole second, bringing up sophomore Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) with two runners in scoring position. Peterson made good on the RBI opportunity with a single to right center. Senior Katie Absher (Puyallup, Wash.) then drove in Falzon with a single toward the shortstop.
Purdue took the Billikens down in order in the seventh to seal the 6-3 win.
Seven different Boilermakers supplied hits in the effort, including the home runs by Messer and Johnson.
Burns (2-1) earned the complete game victory, while striking out nine Billikens. Ashley Levan was saddled with the loss after giving up four runs in 4.1 innings of work.
The Boilermakers return to action at 11 a.m. on Thursday when they take on Villanova to open the Speedline Invitational in Clearwater, Fla.