April 23, 2005
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermaker softball team put up 12 hits in a 10-4 win over Wisconsin in Game 2 of the series on Saturday. All nine of Purdue's starters reached base in the game, while junior Diana LaRiva struck out six in the complete game victory from the mound.
"This was a great team effort," head coach Carol Bruggeman said. "I like the way our offense was swinging their bats today, giving us 12 hits for the second straight game. We feel like we let one slip away yesterday and our team responded to that and put Wisconsin away early today. Diana did what we needed her to do in showing her junior leadership today. It was cold with 20 mph winds, but she was still able to move the ball well and keep the batters off balance. I think this was one of her better games considering the circumstances."
Senior Shelli Messer (Greenfield, Ind.) sent a two-out single into left center to give Purdue its first base runner in the opening stanza. A grounder the shortstop, however, left her stranded.
Kris Zacher drew a lead-off walk to give the Badgers a runner. A sacrifice moved her to second before a liner to the third baseman and a fly ball to center ended the inning.
The Boilermakers put on a hit parade in the second inning, scoring six runs on five hits and a Badger error. Sophomore DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) started the inning with a single back at the pitcher. Junior Staci Falzon (Carlsbad, Calif.) followed with another shot at the pitcher, Katie Layne, who then overthrew first base, allowing both Falzon and pinch runner Jamie Dum (Indianapolis, Ind.) to move into scoring position. Sophomore Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) plated the game's first run with an RBI single to center field, which scored Dum and moved Falzon to third. The Badger pitcher then walked junior Lauren Devich (Bloomington, Ind.) to load the bases. Junior Becky Stone (Belleville, Ill.) picked up an RBI by taking a pitch to the shoulder, driving in Falzon. Junior Tricia Lilley (North Canton, Ohio) kept the rally going with an RBI single to center field which scored Peterson from third. The hit spelled the end of the day for Layne, as the Badger coaches opted for Megan Smith, who entered the game with bases loaded and nobody out.
Smith struck out the first batter she faced, but then walked Messer to push Devich across the plate. Another strikeout brought Johnson to the plate for the second time in the inning. The sophomore delivered on the RBI opportunity, sending a two-run single into left field. A fielder's choice which saw Johnson out at second finally ended the rally.
Wisconsin got one run back in the bottom of the inning. Anastasia Miller drew a one-out walk, then scored on a Natalie Phillips two-out double to left center. Athena Vasquez walked to put runners at first and second, but a strikeout left them stranded.
A walk and a sacrifice put Devich on second with two-outs in the third, but a ground ball kept her from scoring.
Samantha Polito walked to start the Wisconsin third. A strikeout followed then Boo Gillette joined Polito with a walk. LaRiva got herself out of the hole with two more strikeouts.
The Boilermakers added two hits to their tally in the fourth, but could not turn them into runs. Messer singled to second base with one out, but was caught stealing shortly thereafter. Senior Andrea Hillsey then singled to left, before a fly ball to center field ended the inning.
Peterson singled in the fifth, but was left stranded by a ground out and fly out.
The Badgers cut the Purdue lead to three with a pair of runs in the fifth. Zacher singled to center, then moved to third on a Polito double to left. Zacher scored on a Katie Hnatyk sacrifice fly to right. Polito advanced to third on the play, before scoring on another sacrifice fly to right, this time by Gillette. A strikeout accounted for the third out of the inning.
Purdue answered with four runs on two hits and an error in the sixth. Senior Katie Absher (Puyallup, Wash.) and Messer drew back-to-back one-out walks. Hillsey then scored both with a double down the left field line. Falzon plated Hillsey with a double to left center. Peterson reached on a two-base throwing error by the shortstop, while allowed Falzon to score. A grounder to the shortstop wrapped up the inning.
Wisconsin scored an unearned run in the bottom of the inning as Ricci Robben made Purdue pay for a dropped foul ball with a solo home run over the left field wall. A ground out and fly out brought the Boilermakers to the plate.
Absher hit a two-out single in the seventh, but a fielder's choice kept her from scoring.
Polito kept the Badgers' hope alive with a one-out single to short in the final stanza. Gillette then sent a two-out single into right field, moving Polito o third. A fly ball to right, however, sealed the Purdue victory.
The Boilermakers scored 10 runs on 12 hits, as five players posted multi-hit performances. Messer, Hillsey, Johnson, Falzon and Peterson each tallied two hits in the contest.
LaRiva (Tustin, Calif.) struck out six in the complete game victory for Purdue, while Katie Layne (5-7) was charged with the loss after giving up six runs in just over an inning of action.
"I was able to hit my spots today," LaRiva said. "I was able to get the ball moving and get them to pop up or ground out to our defense. It did not feel good because of the cold, but I felt good that I was hitting my spots. My arm was frozen, but my brain was not. (Catcher) Erika Peterson and I stayed focused and our defense worked together to get it done. Our defense was like a brick wall today and that makes you a lot more comfortable as a pitcher."
The Boilermakers (30-18-1, 6-6 Big Ten) return to action at 11 a.m. Sunday when they play host to the Minnesota Golden Gophers (24-20, 5-7 Big Ten).