April 6, 2005
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermaker softball team picked up its 25th win of the season and seventh straight with an 8-0 mercy-rule victory over Butler in Game 2 of Wednesday's doubleheader. Purdue's eight runs came on nine hits, while every available offensive player on the roster made an appearance in the contest.
The Boilermakers used a hit and sacrifice fly to put their first run on the board in the game's opening stanza. Junior Staci Falzon (Carlsbad, Calif.) sent a one-out triple into right center, then senior Andrea Hillsey (White Lake, Mich.) picked up the RBI with a deep foul ball into left field. A pop up ended the inning.
In the second inning, an Amy Hyerczyk one-out single to right center marked the first hit of the game for Butler. The Bulldogs then sacrificed her over to second, but a caught foul ball left her stranded.
Sophomore Catherine Zaworski (Prospect Heights, Ill.) put another hit in the scorebook for Purdue with a two-out bunt single in the bottom of the inning. A ground ball left her aboard.
Butler got another base runner in the third as JoAnna Gonzalez put a two-out single into left field. She then stole second before a looking strike out wrapped up the inning.
Purdue added another run to its tally on two hits in the third. Senior Katie Absher (Puyallup, Wash.) led off with a single to the shortstop, then moved to second on a sacrifice by senior Shelli Messer (Greenfield, Ind.). Falzon picked up the RBI with a single up the middle. A pair of fly outs kept Messer from scoring.
The Boilermakers tacked on three more runs in the fourth inning. Junior Tricia Lilley (North Canton, Ohio) led off with a bunt single, then advanced to second on an Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) sacrifice. Zaworski singled to right, moving Lilley to third. She then stole second. Junior Lauren Devich (Bloomington, Ind.) filled the open spot at first by drawing a pinch hit walk. With the bases juiced, Butler pitcher Jamie Wonderly issued another pinch hit walk, this time to redshirt junior Kristen Schell (San Diego, Calif.), who garnered the RBI with a full-count free base, which scored Lilley. Sophomore Jamie Dum (Indianapolis, Ind.) came in to pinch run for Devich at second as Messer came to the plate. Messer scored Zaworski with a single to center. Falzon then sent a sacrifice fly into left field, scoring Dum, before a ground ball ended the rally.
Butler threatened in the fifth, putting two runners in scoring position with one out, but the Purdue defense worked out of the jam. Andrea Walker drew a one-out walk, then moved to third on an Ashley Barry double to right center. A pop up and a strikeout kept the Bulldogs off the scoreboard.
Purdue put a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the inning but was unable to score. Sophomore DaQueta Johnson drew a walk from relief pitcher Meghan Howard to start the inning, then pinch runner Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.) moved to second on a ground out. A strikeout left her stranded.
The Bulldogs went down in order in the top of the sixth, setting up Purdue's attempt to close out the game early. The Boilermakers posted three runs on two hits to seal the mercy rule victory.
Junior Becky Stone (Belleville, Ill.) led off with a pinch hit double to right, then moved to third on a wild pitch. Freshman Tiffany Krcelich (Granger, Ind.) followed with a pinch hit walk. Freshman Tara Palmer (Pearland, Texas) then picked up an RBI in her first at-bat of the season with a single up the middle. Messer, who pinch ran for Palmer, and Krcelich moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Freshman Nicole Wastl (Lafayette, Ind.) loaded the bases, reaching on a pinch hit walk. Hillsey then scored Krcelich with a sacrifice fly to right. A wild pitch scored Messer for the eighth and final run.
Seven different Purdue players tallied hits in the contest as 19 different Boilermakers saw action in the game. Falzon went 2-for-2 with two RBI and a run, while Zaworski went 2-for-3 with a run as the team's designated player.
"In Game 1, the Butler pitcher (Nikki Naffziger) did a good job," head coach Carol Bruggeman said. "She was a good up-ball pitcher and we struggled to stay on top of it, but it was good preparation for what we will face this weekend. Our hitters made good adjustments today and we had a lot of well hit balls.
"All three of our pitchers were solid today and our defense played well. In Game 2, everybody that could play did, and contributed in a positive manner. It was good to see some of our role players who don't get a lot of playing time do something positive for our team."
Junior Diana LaRiva (Tustin, Calif.) earned the victory after striking out four in five innings of work. LaRiva moved to 8-2 on the season. Freshman Melissa Burns (Miami, Fla.) did not allow Butler a hit in one inning of relief. Jamie Wonderly was charged with the loss for the Bulldogs, giving up five runs in four innings in the circle.
The Boilermakers (25-12) carry a seven-game win streak into Friday's Big Ten contest with No. 24 Iowa. The road matchup with the Hawkeyes is slated to begin at 6 p.m.