Feb. 11, 2005
LAS CRUCES, N.M. - Purdue used a balanced effort to down UMKC 8-0 Friday night. Junior Diana LaRiva tossed a perfect game, the first in Purdue history, while the Boilermaker offense rattled off 10 hits en route to the victory.
The offensive barrage started in the bottom of the first as senior Shelli Messer (Greenfield, Ind.) singled to center, then stole second. Senior Andrea Hillsey (White Lake, Mich.) followed with another single to center, moving Messer to third. Junior Tricia Lilley (North Canton, Ohio) found a hole in the middle of the field yet again, with an RBI single to get Purdue on the board. A wild pitch moved Hillsey and Lilley into scoring position, before sophomore DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) sent a single into left driving both home. Johnson moved to second on the play on a fielding error by the left fielder. Junior Kristen Schell (San Diego, Calif.) reached on an error by the shortstop, which moved Johnson to third. Junior Becky Stone (Belleville, Ill.) then singled to right to push Johnson home. A ground out wrapped up the inning for Purdue.
Messer kicked off the second inning with a single to short and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt by freshman Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.) Hillsey walked, then Lilley singled to right center, scoring Messer and sending Hillsey to third. A wild pitch moved Lilley to third, then Johnson reached on an error by the third baseman, pushing her home. A Schell single and a balk put runners on first and third, but a ground out left the runners stranded.
Sophomores Catherine Zaworski (Prospect Heights, Ill.) and Jamie Dum (Indianapolis, Ind.) and freshman Tiffany Krcelich (Granger, Ind.) entered the game for the Boilermakers in third inning. Krcelich posted a two-out single up the middle, then Hillsey joined her on base via walk, but a caught foul ball kept the team from adding to its lead.
The Boilermakers closed it out in the fifth inning with a final run. Zaworski picked up the lead-off walk, then scooted to third on a Messer double to center. Hillsey walked to load the bases then Lilley hit into a fielder's choice. The shortshop threw home to attempt to get Zaworski, but the throw was not in time, giving Purdue the 8-0 run-rule victory.
Messer went 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs, while Lilley was 2-for-4 with three RBI and two runs.
Junior Diana LaRiva (Tustin, Calif.) threw the complete perfect game no-hitter, striking out 11 batters in the effort.
The Boilermakers return to action at 11 a.m. against Utah Valley State, before facing Texas-Arlington at 1 p.m. (MTN).