March 31, 2006
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermaker softball team opened its Big Ten season against Penn State on Friday, but wound up on the short end of an 8-0 score to start the conference campaign. Purdue looks to rebound against the Nittany Lions at noon on Saturday.
The Nittany Lions scored first, putting up four runs on three hits and a walk in the top of the second. Leigh Murray doubled to left center to put PSU on the board, driving in pinch runner Sam Hovanec and Ashley Esparza from second and third. Jenn Reynolds tacked on two more runs with a home run off the top of the wall in left field.
PSU used a bases loaded fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly to score two runs in the third. Sophomore Melissa Burns (Miami, Fla.) took over on the mound with one out and bases loaded after senior Diana LaRiva (Tustin, Calif.) allowed a pair of walks and a single to start the inning. Burns got the next batter to hit into a fielder's choice, but the play at the plate was not in time. Murray then picked up an RBI with a high fly ball to left, allowing Hollee Haines to score from third. Another fielder's choice left two stranded to end the inning.
The Boilermakers loaded the bases in the third, but could not break onto the scoreboard. Senior Lauren Devich (Bloomington, Ind.) gave the team its first hit with a one-out single to left center. Sophomore Tiffany Krcelich (Granger, Ind.) followed with a single to short center field, before senior Staci Falzon (Carlsbad, Calif.) joined the duo with a walk. A fielder's choice put senior Becky Stone (Belleville, Ill.) aboard, as PSU got the force out at the plate. A strikeout ended the inning with three runners left on.
Penn State made it 8-0 in the fifth as Murray sent a two-run home run over the left field wall.
Krcelich kept hope alive for Purdue with a two-out single up the middle in the bottom of the fifth, but a strikeout sealed the win for PSU.
The Boilermakers managed three hits in the contest, two off the bat of Krcelich, while the Nittany Lions scored eight runs on seven hits.
Missy Beseres (10-2) earned the complete game victory for PSU, while LaRiva (8-8) was saddled with the loss for the Boilermakers.
Purdue (19-17) will have a chance to even the score as the teams meet again at noon on Saturday.