Feb. 17, 2006
LAS VEGAS - The Boilermaker softball team used a complete team effort, featuring a balanced offense, a stout defense and keen pitching, to defeat New Mexico, 7-1 in Game 1 of the Louisville Slugger Desert Classic on Friday.
Purdue scored first, putting one run on one hit in the opening stanza. Freshman Katie Mitchell (Crown Point, Ind.) reached on a fielder's choice, then stole second and took third on a wild pitch, setting up the two-out RBI opportunity for senior Tricia Lilley (North Canton, Ohio). Lilley delivered with a triple over the head of the diving left fielder. A fly ball to left field ended the stanza.
The Boilermakers threatened in the third, loading the bases with out, but could not convert the runners into tallies on the scoreboard. Sophomore Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.) reached on a one-out single to short to start the offensive rally. Mitchell followed with a single through the left side, before Lilley was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A strike out and a grounder to the pitcher kept Purdue from adding to its lead.
A series of passed balls brought Purdue three more runs on two hits in the fourth. Sophomore Catherine Zaworski (Prospect Heights, Ill.) reached on a fielder's choice, then scored on a double to deep center by senior Staci Falzon (Carlsbad, Calif.). Falzon moved to third on an infield single by Hall. Hall stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball, while Falzon scored on the play. Mitchell walked to put runners at first and third with two outs, then a passed ball pushed another run across for the Boilermakers. Lilley walked as Mitchell advanced to third on a passed ball, which accounted for ball four of the walk. A fly ball ended the rally.
A home run by senior Kristen Schell (San Diego, Calif.) added two more runs in the fifth. Senior Becky Stone (Belleville, Ill.) singled to short, then came around on Schell's shot to right center. Two walks and a hit loaded the bases with two outs minutes later, but a grounder to third kept Purdue from raising its lead even further.
New Mexico put its first runner in scoring position in the bottom of the fifth, and was able to convert to end Purdue's shutout bid. Amy Ray singled up the middle then moved to third on a double to right center by Liz Young. A single to third base by Jennifer Deitrich put the Lobos on the scoreboard. A pair of grounders, including one for a double play, wrapped up the inning.
Purdue answered the UNM run in the sixth as junior DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) led off with a solo shot over the right field fence.
The Lobos had one last hope in the seventh inning as they put runners at first and third with two outs in the stanza. Ray doubled and Deitrich followed with a single, putting runners at the corners, but the next batter flew out to left field to seal the Purdue victory.
Purdue scored seven runs on 11 hits, including a perfect 4-for-4 day at the plate for Hall. Stone also posted two hits in the victory. Johnson's home run, the 16th of her career, moves her into fifth-place on the all-time career long ball list, while Lilley's triple ties her for fifth on that career list.
"I thought our defense was on today, our pitching was there, our offense was getting hits with runners in scoring position and being aggressive on the bases," head coach Kim Maher said. "Scoring in the first inning also was huge for us. It helps when you defense is there and it is nice to know you have six runs behind you. It was a nice start to the weekend."
Junior Brooke Baker (Schererville, Ind.) moves to 1-2 on the season with the complete game victory. Baker struck out three in the effort. Jen Mendenhall was tabbed with the loss for UNM after alling four runs in three plus innings of work.
The Boilermakers (4-2) return to the field at 7 p.m. (EST), when they take on the BYU Cougars. GameTracker will be available on purduesports.com.