March 11, 2005
CLEARWATER, Fla. - A sacrifice fly accounted for the lone run of the game as Hofstra edged Purdue 1-0 on Day 2 of the Speedline Invitational. Junior Diana LaRiva struck out 10 in the losing effort as the Boilermakers managed three hits. The team looks to rebound against Oklahoma State at 1 p.m.
The Boilermakers had RBI opportunities in the first two innings, but couldn't manage any runs on the scoreboard. Junior Staci Falzon (Carlsbad, Calif.) drew a lead-off walk, then made her way around the bases on a sacrifice and a ground ball. A strike out, however, left her stranded at third.
Purdue loaded the bases in the second stanza, but again to no avail. Junior Tricia Lilley (North Canton, Ohio) was hit by a pitch then moved to second on a wild pitch. Sophomore Katie Fortune (Kingwood, Texas) then popped a short bunt in front of the plate, reaching base safely and scooting Lilley to third. Fortune stole second, opening first base for sophomore Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) who drew a two-out walk. A fly ball to center field ended the inning.
Hofstra tallied its first hit of the game in the third inning as Lisa Torres doubled up the left field line, but a pair of strikeouts and a pop up kept her from advancing.
The Boilermakers put another runner on in the bottom of the inning as senior Andrea Hillsey (White Lake, Mich.) reached on a one-out walk. She then moved to second on a wild pitch. Senior Shelli Messer (Greenfield, Ind.) joined her on base with a two-out walk, before a ground ball kept both from scoring.
The Pride kept the runners left on tally rising, stranding Ashley Lane, who had posted a two-out single in the fourth.
Purdue had another scoring opportunity in the fourth as redshirt junior Kristen Schell (San Diego, Calif.) fly ball landed just inside the right field line for a double. Pinch runner Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.) moved to third on a sacrifice, but was out at the plate on a fielder's choice the following play.
Hillsey sent a one-out double into left field in the fifth, then Messer reached on a two-out walk, but a ground ball kept the scoreboard blank.
Back-to-back bunt singles and a sacrifice gave Hostra two runners in scoring position. Laura Sweeney and Pam Dreslinski led off with the singles, before the sacrifice. The Boilermakers intentionally walked the next batter, before Courtney Oliver sent a sacrifice fly to short left center to score the game's first run. A strikeout got Purdue out of the inning without further damage.
The Boilermakers had one last chance to score in the bottom of the seventh. Falzon walked to start the inning, then sophomore Jamie Dum (Indianapolis, Ind.) sacrificed her over to second. A wild pitch moved her to third. Hillsey hit a fly ball to center field, setting up what should have been a sacrifice fly, but the throw home beat Falzon to the plate to end the game.
Hillsey, Schell and Fortune accounted for Purdue's three hits, while Hofstra's one run came on four hits.
Callie Osbourne (2-3) picked up the win for Hofstra, while junior Diana LaRiva (Tustin, Calif.) was charged with the loss, despite striking out 10 batters in the complete game effort.
Purdue (12-9) looks to rebound against Oklahoma State in a 1 p.m. contest.