March 18, 2005
RALEIGH, N.C. - The Purdue softball team used timely hitting and strong pitching en route to a 2-1 win over Western Illinois Friday night. The Boilermakers turned a 1-0 deficit into a victory with late inning heroics. Junior Diana LaRiva struck out 10 in the complete game effort, while junior Tricia Lilley led the Purdue bats.
The Boilermakers tallied the first hit of the game as senior Andrea Hillsey (White Lake, Mich.) sent a two-out single up the middle in the opening stanza. Hillsey then stole second before a fly ball to right left her stranded.
Western Illinois put a runner on in the second as Sarah Fleischman singled through the right side. A strike out and a foul out came before pinch runner Amy Douglas was caught trying to steal second.
Purdue put two aboard in the bottom of the second on an error, a fielder's choice and a walk, but couldn't convert them into runs. Junior Tricia Lilley (North Canton, Ohio) reached on a fielding error by the shortstop. A fielder's choice saw Lauren Devich (Bloomington, Ind.) replace Lilley on first as the Westerwinds got the out at second. A sacrifice moved Devich to second, opening first base for sophomore Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.), who walked. A ground ball, however, left both runners on.
The Westerwinds broke onto the scoreboard in the fourth as Jess Stanforth led off by sending a full count pitch over the center field fence for a home run.
Lilley sent a double into deep right field in the bottom of the inning, but a pair of ground balls kept her from scoring.
The Boilermakers tied it up in the fifth with one run on three hits and two errors. Sophomore Catherine Zaworski (Prospect Heights, Ill.) reached on single to the pitcher, then moved to second on a Katie Absher (Puyallup, Wash.) single to short left field. Hillsey walked to load the bases for DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.). Johnson sent a dribbler back to the pitcher, who was unable to field it, allowing Zaworski to score from third. A fielder's choice to third base ended the rally.
Purdue put a runner on in the sixth as Peterson drew a two-out walk, but the team couldn't manufacture any runs in the stanza.
WIU went down in order in the top of the seventh opening the door for the Boilermakers. Purdue took advantage of their position as home team with one runs on two hits in the stanza. Senior Shelli Messer (Greenfield, Ind.) started things off with a single up the middle. Absher followed with a sacrifice. Hillsey climbed aboard with a walk. Lilley tallied the game-winning RBI with a double into right field, scoring Messer to seal the victory.
Purdue scored two runs on seven hits, led by Lilley's pair of doubles. Messer, Absher, Hillsey, Johnson and Zaworski accounted for the other hits. Western Illinois posted one run on two hits, while committing three errors in the contest.
"I am so happy for Tricia Lilley," head coach Carol Bruggeman said. "She is a tremendous competitor and came through with a the game-winning hit in bottom of the seventh. Once again, our pitching staff was outstanding. Both Brooke Baker and Diana LaRiva pitched outstanding games for us today. Our pitching staff and our defense are keeping us in ball games until our offense can win it."
Junior Diana LaRiva (Tustin, Calif.) struck out 10 in the complete game victory. Kim King (0-2) was saddled with the loss for the Westerwinds.
The Boilermakers return to the field at 11 a.m. against Fairfield.