Feb. 11, 2006
BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Purdue softball team used heads up defense and a variety of offensive weapons to defeat Bethune Cookman College 2-1 on Saturday morning.
The Boilermakers struck first with a run on a hit and a hit by pitch in the opening stanza. Senior Tricia Lilley (North Canton, Ohio) was hit by a pitch with two outs, then stole second setting up an RBI opportunity for senior Staci Falzon (Carlsbad, Calif.). Falzon picked up the RBI with a triple to the left center gap. The three-baser is the ninth of her career, giving her sole possession of fourth place on the Purdue career list. A grounder to second base ended the inning, stranding Falzon.
Bethune Cookman put a runner on in the bottom of the inning with a single up the middle, but the runner was quickly negated as catcher Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) and freshman Candace Curtis connected to catch her stealing.
Freshman Katie Mitchell (Crown Point, Ind.) led off the second inning with a double to deep left field, but did not make it around to score in the stanza.
The Lady Wildcats evened the score in the second combining a hit, a walk and a fielder's choice for a single run. Holly Bussey walk, then Jaimie Scott reached on a fielder's choice. Megan McGuire tied the score with a single to center, driving in Bussey. The next batter grounded up to end the inning.
BCC threatened in the third, loading the bases, but the Purdue defense maintained its composure, keeping the team off the scoreboard. The Boilermakers evaded another Wildcat scoring try in the fourth inning as right fielder DaQueta Johnson threw out a runner at the plate from the warning track on a Tiffany Bowser triple.
Purdue regained the lead with a run on a hit and an error in the top of the sixth. Sophomore Tiffany Krcelich (Granger, Ind.) gave the Boilermakers a base runner with a one-out bunt single. She then moved to second on a ground out as Falzon came to the plate. The senior hit a shot to into the outfield, which was dropped by the left fielder, allowing Krcelich to score from second. Falzon then stole second, but was left stranded by a liner to the pitcher.
The Boilermaker defense came through again in the sixth inning, using a rundown to nullify another potential BCC run. Bussey singled and moved to second on a ground ball, but was unable to score from there on the following at-bat by McGuire. McGuire reached on an error by the shortstop, advancing Bussey, but sharp thinking by the Purdue defense caught her in a rundown between third and home, saving another run.
Senior Kristen Schell posted a pinch hit double with two outs in the seventh inning and advanced to third on a throwing error by the left fielder. A caught foul ball kept her from crossing the plate.
The Lady Wildcats put a runner on to lead off the seventh, but a fielder's choice a play later saw her out at second. A pop up and fly ball to left sealed the Purdue win.
Krcelich led the Boilermaker offense with a 2-for-3 day at the plate, while five other players contributed hits. Purdue scored two runs on seven hits, while allowing just one run.
Senior Diana LaRiva (2-0) earned the victory, striking out three in the complete game effort. Viveca Patterson was charged with the loss for Bethune-Cookman.
The Boilermakers wrap up Day 2 of the FAU Worth Invitational at 11 a.m. when they face off against the East Carolina Pirates.