March 10, 2006
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Boilermaker softball team scored early and often in its 13-4 win over Villanova at the USF/Adidas Invitational on Friday. Purdue posted 13 runs on seven hits, while receiving nine free bases from the Wildcats. Junior DaQueta Johnson tied the school single-game record for home runs with two in the game.
The Boilermakers took advantage of Villanova pitcher Megan Hord, batting through the order and lighting her up for seven runs on three hits, six walks and five stolen bases in the opening stanza. . Hord walked the first three batters she faced in senior Staci Falzon (Carlsbad, Calif.), sophomore Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.) and senior Tricia Lilley (North Canton, Ohio). Falzon led off then took second on a wild pitch, before she and Hall moved into scoring position with a double steal. Another wild pitch put Purdue on the scoreboard, before Lilley's walk put runners at first and third. Another double steal plated Hall. Lilley then moved to third on a ground ball to the pitcher. Freshman Katie Mitchell (Crown Point, Ind.) walked, then stole second before a sacrifice fly by senior Becky Stone (Belleville, Ill.) scored Lilley. Junior Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) picked up an RBI with a single up the first base line. Peterson moved to second on the throw home then to third on a wild pitch. Two more walks filled the bases, before a pair of singles through the left side by Falzon and Hall made it 7-0 Purdue. A ground ball finally ended the inning.
The Wildcats got one run back in the bottom of the inning as Sheri Donley hit a two-out solo home run.
Purdue pushed its lead back to seven in the second inning as junior DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) sent the first pitch of the stanza towering over the fence in left center.
Villanova threatened in the third, putting runners at first and third on a pair of singles, but could not score. The Wildcats cut into the Boilermaker lead with two runs on four hits in the fourth. A double up the left line by Lisa Curran and a single to right by Kayla Felty accounted for the runs. VU left the bases loaded in the inning.
Peterson walked to start the fifth inning. Pinch runner Kelly Miller (Indianapolis, Ind.) advanced to third on a pop up and a sacrifice, before scoring on a single to short left field by Falzon. Falzon stole second, then scored on a single through the left side by Hall. Hall went to second on the throw home, then stole third after being joined on base by Lilley, who was hit by a pitch. Johnson cleared the bases with a three-run shot over the wall in left center, tying the school single game-record for home runs in a game with two. Reli ef pitcher Carolyn Brown forced a ground out two batters later to end the rally.
The Wildcats would not go down without a fight, putting their first two batters on in the bottom of the inning. A ground rule double gave VU runners at second and third with no outs. A sacrifice fly to center scored the lead runner, Donley, from third. A strikeout sealed the Purdue mercy-rule victory.
Purdue scored 13 runs on seven hits including two-hit performances by Falzon, Hall and Johnson. Villanova managed four runs on nine hits.
Junior Brooke Baker (Schererville, Ind.) moves to 6-6 on the season with the complete-game victory, while Hord was saddled with the loss for VU.
The Boilermakers look to build on their two-game win streak against Tennessee Tech at 6 p.m.