March 20, 2005
RALEIGH, N.C. - Five Boilermaker players tallied hits and two contributed sacrifice flies in Purdue's 3-2 win over Western Kentucky in the semi-final round of the Wolfpack Challenge on Sunday. Sophomore Brooke Baker also struck out eight Hilltopper players in a complete game effort on the mound. Purdue will take Illinois-Chicago for the tournament title at 2:30 p.m.
Western Kentucky picked up a third-inning walk to mark the game's first base runner, but a pop up and ground out to first base kept her from making her way around the bases.
The Boilermakers posted the first hits of the game with back-to-back infield lasers in the bottom of the third. Junior Staci Falzon (Carlsbad, Calif.) hit a two-out liner at the first baseman, then senior Shelli Messer (Greenfield, Ind.) followed with a line drive at the third baseman. A ground out, however, kept the team from scoring.
The Hilltoppers threatened in the top of the fourth, putting a runner in scoring position, but were unable to pick up the RBI. Shelly Floyd singled to deep right field, then advanced to second on the throw. She moved to third on a ground ball, but a grounder to the shortstop ended the inning.
Purdue jumped onto the scoreboard in the fourth with a pair of hits and a sacrifice fly. Senior Andrea Hillsey (White Lake, Mich.) started the rally with a single into short center field. Senior Katie Absher (Puyallup, Wash.) followed with a bunt single on a sacrifice attempt. A deep fly ball to left advanced both runners into scoring position with sophomore Katie Fortune (Kingwood, Texas) coming to the plate. After a lengthy battle with the pitcher, Fortune hit a fly ball into right field, scoring Hillsey from third for the game's first run. A ground out left Lilley on third at the end of the stanza.
The Boilermakers padded their lead with X runs in the sixth inning. Absher legged out a single to first base to kick off the stanza. Hillsey reached on a sacrifice attempt as the second baseman dropped the ball while covering first. The play moved Absher to third. Hillsey then stole second. A wild pitch scored Absher and advanced Hillsey to third. Sophomore DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) then sent a sacrifice fly into right field, driving in Hillsey.
Western Kentucky did not go away, instead mounting a comeback effort in the final stanza. Floyd started the inning with a single toward first, but was out on a fielder's choice the next play. A wild pitch moved Sam Young to second, then pinch runner Stephanie Young moved to third on a double to right by Alana Towns. Adrienne Lathrop singled into left to score both Young and Towns. A strike out and ground out sealed the Purdue victory.
Five different batters tallied hits for Purdue, while Johnson and Fortune picked up RBI for the Boilermakers. Western Kentucky scored two runs on four hits, while committing one error.
Sophomore Brooke Baker (Schererville, Ind.) struck out eight in the complete game victory, while Ashton Strode (3-4) was charged with the loss for the Hilltoppers.
Purdue returns to the field at 2:30 p.m. against Illinois-Chicago.