April 17, 2005
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue softball team posted five hits in the night cap of its doubleheader with No. 16 Northwestern, but could not overpower the Wildcats, who earned a 7-0 victory. The Boilermakers look to get back on the winning track when they travel to Valparaiso, Ind., to take on the Crusaders on Tuesday.
A fielding error by the pitcher gave Northwestern its first base runner in the bottom of the first, but she was nullified by a ground out and fly out.
Purdue put a pair of runners on in the second, but could not jump onto the scoreboard. Sophomore DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) tallied the first hit of the game with a lead-off single to short left field. A fielder's choice put Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) on board, but saw pinch runner Jamie Dum (Indianapolis, Ind.) out at second. Junior Tricia Lilley reached on an infield single, advancing Peterson to second, but a pair of strikeouts left both stranded.
Northwestern put up a two-spot in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. Sheila McCorkle sent a one-out single up the middle, then moved to second on a Kelly Odell walk. A Darcy Sengewald infield single loaded the bases. Katie Logan drew an RBI walk to drive in the game's first run. Stephanie Churchwell scored Odell with a sacrifice fly into center field. A ground ball ended the inning.
Senior Shelli Messer (Greenfield, Ind.) hit a one-out single up the middle in the third, but was later caught stealing for the inning's third out.
Jamie Dotson singled in the third for Northwestern, but a pair of strikeouts left her stranded.
The Wildcats added four runs to their lead on three hits in the fourth. Odell drew a lead-off walk, then moved to second on a bunt single by Churchwell. Erin Mobley drove in both runners with a double to deep left field. Mobley moved to third on the throw home. Garland Cooper then hit a two-run home run off the scoreboard in right center to make it 6-0. A strikeout got Purdue out of the inning.
The Boilermakers put two aboard in the fifth on a walk and a single, but could not convert them into runs. Junior Tricia Lilley (North Canton, Ohio) drew the lead-off walk. Senior Katie Absher (Puyallup, Wash.) singled into short left field with two outs to put Lilley in scoring position, but a strikeout left both on base.
Sophomore Brooke Baker (Schererville, Ind.) came in to relieve junior Diana LaRiva (Tustin, Calif.) on the mound to begin the fifth inning and retired the Wildcats in order.
Senior Andrea Hillsey (White Lake, Mich.) was hit by a pitch with one-out in the sixth, but a strikeout and ground out to the shortstop kept her from making her way around the bases.
Northwestern tallied one run on two hits and an error in the sixth. Logan reached on an error by the third baseman, then moved to second as Churchwell singled through the left side. Mobley singled to the shortstop to load the bases. A ground out to second scored Logan, before another grounder ended the inning.
Junior Lauren Devich (Bloomington, Ind.) kept hope alive for the Boilermakers with a one-out single to left field in the top of the seventh. A strike out and a pick off gave Northwestern the victory.
Five different Purdue players tallied hits in the game as Messer, Johnson, Lilley, Devich and Absher each reached base via hit. Northwestern scored seven runs on eight hits and two Purdue miscues.
The Boilermakers (28-17, 5-5 Big Ten) return to action on Tuesday in a 3 p.m. doubleheader at Valparaiso.