Feb. 25, 2006
PEKIN, Ill. - The Boilermaker softball team scored early and often en route to a 6-1 win over Northern Iowa on Saturday, earning a right to play in the championship game of the Bradley Invitational on Sunday.
UNI loaded the bases to start the game after two walks and an error by the second baseman, but the defense buckled down, taking down the next three batters in order, via strikeout, pop up and ground out.
The Boilermakers posted their first hit of the game in the second inning as junior Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) put a two-out single through the left side. Peterson advanced to second on a single up the middle by senior Becky Stone (Belleville, Ill.), but was thrown out trying to take third on the play.
Purdue used a pair of hits and a fielder's choice to manufacture a run in the third. Sophomore Tiffany Krcelich (Granger, Ind.) singled to the shortstop with one out, then moved to third on a double to left center by senior Staci Falzon (Carlsbad, Calif.). Sophomore Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.) laid down a bunt, reaching on the fielder's choice, as Krcelich slid under the tag at home to put the Boilermakers on the board. Senior Tricia Lilley (North Canton, Ohio) walked, but Falzon was out trying to take home on the play. A strikeout ended the inning.
The Boilermakers padded their lead with four runs on four hits in the fourth. Senior Kristen Schell (San Diego, Calif.) started the inning with a single up the middle. Pinch runner Christina Trauger (Santa Rosa, Calif.) moved to second as Peterson walked, but was out the following play as Stone reached on a fielder's choice. A single to left by senior Lauren Devich (Bloomington, Ind.) loaded the bases. Krcelich made good on the RBI opportunity with a two-run single up the left field line. She advanced to second on the play. A sacrifice fly by Falzon, scored Devich and pushed Krcelich to third. She then scored on a wild pitch. Hall followed with a bunt single, but a fielder's choice ended the inning.
The Panthers got one run back in the bottom of the inning on two hits and an error. Kelly Papesh led off with a single up the middle. Pinch runner Brittany Ruzicka then moved to third on an error by the second baseman. A bunt single drove her in after a close play at first base. A one-out walk loaded the bases before a strike out and a liner to short wrapped up the stanza.
Krcelich continued to find success at the plate, registering a one-out single through the left side in the sixth. She then advanced to third on a ground ball and was joined on base by freshman Kelly Miller, who reached on a fielding error by the third baseman. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position, before they were stranded by a ground out.
A pair of errors and a hit gave the Boilermakers another insurance run in the seventh. Junior DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) reached on a fielding error by the shortstop to start the inning. Pinch runner Catherine Zaworski (Prospect Heights, Ill.) moved to second on a sacrifice by Peterson, then scored on a single to left by Stone. Stone moved to second on a fielding error by the left fielder, but a fly ball kept her from scoring.
Purdue scored six runs on 11 hits, led by Krcelich's 3-for-3 day at the plate, which included two runs and two RBI. Schell also posted multiple hits in the contest. Northern Iowa scored one run on four hits.
Junior Brooke Baker (Schererville, Ind.) moves to 5-4 on the season with the complete game victory. She struck out five Panthers in the effort. Monica Wright (1-3) was charged with the loss for UNI.
"At the end of the day, a W is a W," head coach Kim Maher said. "We made improvements from our first game to the second game. We had a few errors, but everyone stepped up and buckled down. We had great performances at the plate from Krcelich, Stone and Schell.
"When the pitchers are ahead in the count and hitting their spots, and our defense is not making mistakes, whether physical or mental, we perform at a higher level. The bottom line is that we have found ways to win. I have to give our team a slap on back for finding ways to win, even if they haven't been the prettiest. We scored in the seventh inning last night, the eighth inning in our first game today and we found a way to get it done tonight, but the tournament is not over."
The Boilermakers return to action at 2 p.m. (CST) Sunday when they face off with the host Bradley Braves (3-0) for the tournament title.