April 3, 2005
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue softball team racked up 11 runs on 12 hits en route to a Big Ten opening victory over Michigan State on Sunday. The Boilermakers won the contest 11-1 as nine different batters tallied hits and sophomore Brooke Baker struck out five in the complete game effort.
The Boilermakers wasted no time jumping onto the scoreboard in the opening stanza. Senior Shelli Messer (Greenfield, Ind.) sent a lead-off single into center field, then moved to second on a single up the middle by senior Andrea Hillsey (White Lake, Mich.). A fielder's choice put sophomore DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) on first and moved Messer to third. Sophomore Tricia Lilley (North Canton, Ohio) made good on the two-out RBI opportunity with a triple into deep right center. A ground ball ended the rally.
Purdue tacked on two more runs in the fourth on a hit, a walk and a hit by pitch. Lilley was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning. Sophomore Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) sacrificed her over to second, then junior Lauren Devich (Bloomington, Ind.) drew a two-out walk. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position for redshirt junior Kristen Schell (San Diego, Calif.), who sent a two-out blooper into short center field to score both runs. A ground ball again ended the inning.
The Spartans got on the board with a single run in the top of the fifth. Caitlin Mahoney started the inning with a single to center, then pinch runner Jessica Lefevre moved to second on a sacrifice. A ground out advanced Lefevre to third. Nicole Mercado then drew a two-out walk and kept on running towards second, drawing a throw from the catcher, which allowed Lefevre to steal home. A strikeout kept MSU from adding to its run tally.
Michigan State switched pitchers to start the fifth inning, replacing starter Christy McGrew with Abby Lincoln.
The Boilermakers then tallied seven runs in the bottom of the sixth to end the game via mercy rule. Lilley started the inning with a single to left then Peterson followed with a single just inside the left field line. The Spartans took out Lincoln in favor of pitcher Lesley Noel after the pair of hits. The change did not effect sophomore Katie Fortune (Kingwood, Texas) made it three in a row with a single up the middle. Pinch runner Jamie Dum (Indianapolis, Ind.) moved to second on the play, but Lilley was tagged out trying to score. Pinch runner Tiffany Krcelich (Granger, Ind.) and Dum moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. A popup brought up senior Katie Absher (Puyallup, Wash.), who filled the empty space at first base with a bunt single. Messer then singled to the shortstop, scoring Dum. Junior Staci Falzon (Carlsbad, Calif.) then sent a single up the middle and advanced to second on the throw home as Krcelich scored and Absher made it home on a fielding error by the center fielder. The Spartans then intentionally walked Hillsey to load the bases, setting the stage for Johnson, who ended the game with a grand slam off the left field foul pole.
Purdue scored 11 runs on 12 hits, including two-hit performances by Messer, Lilley and Absher. Lilley and Absher each went 2-for-2 in the contest. Johnson accounted for four RBI and two runs, while tallying her third grand slam of her career.
Sophomore Brooke Baker (Schererville, Ind.) moved to 11-8 on the season with the complete game victory. Baker struck out five in the effort. Christy McGrew was charged with the loss for MSU after giving up four runs in four innings of work.
The Boilermakers look to pick up their first conference opening sweep since 1996 with a victory in Game 2.