March 26, 2005
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermaker softball team tallied five runs on 13 hits en route to a 5-2 win over Detroit. Eight different Purdue players posted hits in the home-opener, while sophomore Brooke Baker struck out five. The team will face the Titans in Game 2 of the twin bill, beginning at 2 p.m.
Detroit jumped onto the scoreboard early with one run on three hits in the opening stanza. Lindsay Roy drew a one-out walk, then Kristin Martin followed with a bunt single. A Katrina Klemp single through the left side loaded the bases. A fielder's choice saw Roy out at the plate and put Anna Ollgaard on first. Michelle Baggio then sent an RBI single up the middle, driving in Martin for the game's first score. Klemp tried to score from second on the play, but Purdue center fielder Katie Absher (Puyallup, Wash.) threw her out at the plate to end the inning.
Purdue put a pair of runners aboard in the bottom of the inning, but couldn't manage a run. Senior Shelli Messer (Greenfield, Ind.) led off with a single through the right side, then freshman Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.) sacrificed her over to second. Senior Andrea Hillsey (White Lake, Mich.) then singled through the left side, before a fielder's choice put Tricia Lilley (North Canton, Ohio) on as the Titans got Messer out at third. Lilley and Hillsey moved into scoring position on a wild pitch, but a ground ball kept the Boilermakers scoreless.
The Titans put a runner in scoring position in the second inning, but it was to no avail. Kari Messina walked, then moved to second on a sacrifice, before a ground ball left her stranded.
The Boilermakers broke into the runs column in the second, carding a pair of runs on four hits. Junior Staci Falzon (Carlsbad, Calif.) sent a lead-off single through the right side. Sophomore Katie Fortune (Kingwood, Texas) put down a sacrifice bunt, pushing Falzon to second. Sophomore Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) singled to left, moving Falzon to third. She then stole second putting two runners in scoring position for Absher. The senior laid down the perfect bunt just in front of the plate for the squeeze play, scoring Falzon and advancing Peterson to third. Absher swiped second, before Messer sent a sharp RBI single up the middle, scoring Peterson. Messer then stole second before a fly ball ended the rally.
Detroit got the run back in the third with one run on one hit and an error. Martin walked then moved to second on an errant throw by the catcher, who was trying to catch her away from first. A ground out moved her to third, before an Ollgaard single up the middle drove her in. Another ground ball left Ollgaard on base.
The next base runner did not appear until the bottom of the fourth with Peterson posted her second hit of the day, a one-out single up the middle. Pinch runner Jamie Dum (Indianapolis, Ind.) moved to second on a ground ball, but a fly ball kept her from scoring.
Purdue regained the lead with a single run in the fifth. Hall singled through the right side, then advanced on a sacrifice by Hillsey. A ground ball pushed her to third, setting up an RBI single to left by sophomore DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.). A ground ball, however, left pinch runner Tiffany Krcelich (Granger, Ind.) stranded.
The Boilermakers tacked on two insurance runs with four hits in the sixth. Fortune doubled to center, then Peterson scored pinch runner Lauren Devich (Bloomington, Ind.) with a double to left center. Absher reached on a bunt single, moving Peterson to third. She then stole second. Hillsey then sent a two-out single into left field, scoring Peterson, before Absher was called out at the plate.
Detroit went down in order in the seventh to seal the Purdue victory.
Peterson went 3-for-3 with two runs and one RBI, while Messer and Hillsey also posted multi-hit days. Eight different Boilermakers contributed to the offensive barrage.
"I was just really relaxed today and saw the ball well," Peterson said. "I worked a lot with the coaches this week on both mechanical and mental stuff. The ball looked like it was in slow motion for me today and it seemed really big. I just finally relaxed and hit the ball."
Sophomore Brooke Baker struck out five Titans in the complete game victory, moving her record to 10-8 on the year. Lindsay Roy was charged with the loss for Detroit after pitching a complete game.
The Boilermakers look to sweep the series with Detroit with a win in Game 2 of the twin bill, which is slated to begin at 2 p.m.