March 4, 2006
FULLERTON, Calif. - No. 12 Georgia proved too strong for the Boilermaker softball team at the Worth Invitational on Saturday, registering a 6-2 win. Purdue tallied nine hits in the contest, but left nine runners on base in the contest.
The Bulldogs put up two runs on three hits and an error in the opening stanza. Kelli Middleton led off with a single up the middle, then stole second before scoring on a single by Jessica Doucette. Megan McAllister walked then advanced around to score on singles by Doucette and Chelsea Cantillo and an errant throw by the third baseman.
Purdue tallied its first hit in the bottom of the inning as senior Staci Falzon (Carlsbad, Calif.) led off with a single up the middle. She was replaced at first base the following play as sophomore Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.) reached on a fielder's choice. A sacrifice moved Hall to second before a ground ball ended the inning.
The Boilermakers broke onto the scoreboard in the second, combining three hits for their first run. Junior DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) led off with a single through the left side. Pinch runner Christina Trauger (Santa Rosa, Calif.) scored after a bunt single by senior Becky Stone (Belleville, Ill.) and a single up the middle by junior Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.). Falzon drew a two-out walk to load the bases, but a ground out left the runners stranded.
Georgia registered three runs on three hits in the third. Sojourner Moody singled and scored after a sacrifice, a passed ball and a single by Doucette. Doucette rounded the bases on a fielder's choice and a double by Alison Horne. Cantillo, who reached on the fielder's choice, came around to score on Horne's hit and a wild pitch. Sophomore Brooke Baker (Schererville, Ind.) entered the game to pitch with one out in the inning.
Purdue attempted to answer in the third, posting a pair of two-out singles, but could not convert as a strikeout wrapped up the stanza.
The Bulldogs loaded the bases with two outs in the fifth on a fielder's choice and two singles, before a close play at third on a fielder's choice allowed Horne to score and put Middleton aboard. A grounder to the shortstop kept Georgia from adding any more runs.
The Boilermakers utilized a squeeze bunt to add one run in the seventh inning. Falzon singled up the middle, then Hall sent a double over the center fielder's head, putting runners at second and third with no outs. Senior Kristen Schell (San Diego, Calif.) came in to pinch hit, and laid down a perfect squeeze bunt to drive in Falzon from third. A strike out and a ground out ended the rally.
Purdue posted two runs on nine hit in the game, led by two-hit efforts by Falzon, Johnson and Stone. Georgia tallied six runs on 12 hits and two Boilermaker miscues.
Katie Griffith (5-1) earned the victory for Georgia after pitching four innings of relief. Stone, who saw her first collegiate action in the pitching circle in the contest, was charged with the loss, tossing two and one third innings, striking out one.
Purdue returns to action at 8:15 p.m. (PST) when they take on No. 9 Oregon State in a make up of Friday's cancelled contest.