March 19, 2006
TAMPA, Fla. - An eighth-inning home run lifted the Canisius Golden Griffins over the Purdue softball team at the Speedline Invitational on Sunday. Canisius won the game 4-3 in extra stanzas. The Boilermakers look to shake off the loss at the home opener against Valparaiso on Wednesday.
Canisius put runners in scoring position on an error and a bunt single in the bottom of the first, but the Purdue defense kept them off the scoreboard.
The Boilermakers broke into the runs column with two runs on two hits and an error in the second. Sophomore Tiffany Krcelich dropped a single into short left field with two outs, plating senior Becky Stone (Belleville, Ill.), who walked and stole third. Junior Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.), who reached on a walk, moved to second on the play. She then advanced to third on a single up the middle by senior Staci Falzon (Carlsbad, Calif.), before scoring as the throw home from the relay sailed over the catcher's head.
The Golden Griffins loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the inning on a hit, a fielder's choice and an error, but back-to-back fielder's choices got Purdue out of the inning unscathed.
Canisius managed an unearned run in the third to end the shutout. Katie Miranto recorded the run for the Griffs after reaching on an infield single and moving to third on a botched pickoff attempt and a ground out. She then scored on an errant throw home on a fielder's choice attempt.
Sophomore Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.) and junior DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) put up a pair of fifth-inning singles, but could not score as a strikeout ended the inning.
The Griffins scored again in the sixth, tying the game at 2-2, on a Ashley Bonetto double to right center. The hit scored Lori Gilbert, who was on third after a walk and a fielding error by the second baseman.
Neither team could manage a run in the seventh sending the game to extra innings.
Senior Tricia Lilley (North Canton, Ohio) was placed on second base to start the eighth inning due to the international tie breaker rule. She moved to third on a sacrifice by Johnson before scoring on a fielding error by the second baseman that put senior Kristen Schell (San Diego, Calif.) aboard. A single to left by Peterson put runners at first and second with one out, but a pop up and strikeout brought Canisius to the plate for the last time.
Rachelle Barrientos was the hero of the game for the Griffins as she sent a one-out home run over the left field fence to give Canisius the win. The home run also scored Cameron Norton was placed on second to start the inning.
Purdue scored three runs on six hits by six different players. Canisius posted four runs on nine hits and six Boilermaker miscues. Juliette Bowers earned the complete-game victory for Canisius, while junior Brooke Baker (Schererville, Ind.) was charged with the loss for Purdue.
The Boilermakers return to action on Wednesday when they return home for their home opening doubleheader with Valparaiso.