Marooned

April 24, 2005

Final Stats

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Minnesota Golden Gophers capitalized on some Purdue miscues en route to an 8-4 win at the Varsity Softball Complex in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader. The Boilermakers tallied nine hits, but it was not enough to overtake the Minnesota squad.

The Golden Gophers scored first with a single run on two hits in the opening stanza. Megan Higginbotham sent a two-out single up the middle, then moved to second on a wild pitch. A Valerie Alston single up the middle drove in the run. Rachel Keeney reached on an error by the pitcher, advancing Alston to second. The next batter hit into a fielder's choice in which the shortstop tagged Alston on her way to third to end the inning.

The Boilermakers tied it up with a run on a hit and an error in the bottom of the inning. Junior Tricia Lilley (North Canton, Ohio) led off with an infield single then moved to second as senior Katie Absher (Puyallup, Wash.) walked. A sacrifice by senior Shelli Messer (Greenfield, Ind.) moved both runners into scoring position. Senior Andrea Hillsey (White Lake, Mich.) walked to load the bases. Sophomore DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) reached as the shortstop dropped a fly ball in short left, allowing Lilley to score from third. The shortstop recovered from the error to throw out Absher at third. A wild pitch moved Hillsey to third, before a fly ball ended the inning.

Minnesota put a runner in scoring position in the second to no avail. Melissa Murnane walked, then advanced to second on a ground out. Another grounder left her stranded.

Purdue took the lead as sophomore Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) launched a solo home run just inside the left field foul pole to lead off the second. The Boilermakers went down in order following the home run.

The Gophers took the lead with two runs on three hits and two errors in the top of the third. Megan Higginbotham sent a one-out single into left, then scored on a pair of Boilermaker miscues. Valerie Alston hit into a fielder's choice, but all hands were safe as the shortstop mishandled the feed from the second baseman. Higginbotham took off for third, prompting a throw from the shortstop, which sailed into the Purdue dugout allowing her to score and Alston to advance to third. A single up the middle by Rachel Keeney drove in Alston to give Minnesota the 3-2 lead. A Lindsey Erickson single put runners at first and second. Erickson was out at second on a fielder's choice the following play before a grounder to third ended the stanza.

Messer gave Purdue a base runner in the third with a single to second base. A ground ball to the pitcher moved to her second, but a pop up to the shortstop kept her from scoring.

Minnesota added to its lead with four runs on two hits and two Purdue miscues in the fourth. Stefanie Watt started the inning with a single through the left side. Stephanie Sward followed with a single to the pitch. An error by the third baseman put Chrissy Sward on base, while moving Sward to third and scoring Watt. Higginbotham reached on a fielder's choice as the Boilermakers went for the out at the plate. Stefanie Sward slid under the tag for the score. The Gophers added another run with a double steal. Higginbotham stole second drawing the throw as Chrissy Sward stole home. The throw back to the plate allowed Higginbotham to take third. Keeney reached on a fielding error by the shortstop, as Higginbotham crossed the plate. A pair of looking strikeouts finally got Purdue out of the inning.

The Boilermakers got two runs back in the bottom of the inning. Peterson hit a one-out single to right. Junior Lauren Devich (Bloomington, Ind.) followed with a single to left, then a Becky Stone (Belleville, Ill.) single to short loaded the bases. A Lilley double to left center scored Peterson and pinch runner Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.), while Stone was called out in a controversial call at third base. Absher singled up the middle and moved to second as the Gophers threw to third to hold Lilley there. A ground out kept both from making it in to score.

The Gophers loaded the bases in the fifth on an error, a sacrifice and two walks, but were unable to score. Murnane reached on a fielding error by the shortstop, then moved to second on a sacrifice. Chrissy Sward drew a two-out walk, prompting the Boilermakers to intentionally walk Higginbotham. The move worked as a grounder to the first baseman ended the inning.

Hillsey drew her second walk of the game in the fifth, but was nullified by a ground out double-play.

Minnesota got a hit from Keeney in the sixth, but three straight ground outs left her stranded.

The Gophers added an insurance run in the seventh on three hits. Stefanie Sward hit a one-out single up the middle. Chrissy Sward followed with a single to left which moved Stefanie to third. A Higginbotham single to left scored the run, before a double play ended the stanza.

Lilley singled to left center to keep hope alive for Purdue. She moved to second on a ground out, but a strike out and a ground out gave Minnesota the win.

Purdue scored four runs on nine hits, while Minnesota posted eight runs on 11 hits. Lilley led Purdue at the plate with a 3-for-4 day including two RBI and a run. Peterson went 2-for-3 with two runs and an RBI.

Lyn Peyer (16-12) earned the complete game win for the Gophers, while sophomore Brooke Baker (Schererville, Ind.) was charged with the loss despite striking out three in a complete game effort.

The Boilermakers look to split the series with a win in Game 2.