April 11, 2006
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermaker softball team put up seven runs on 11 hits en route to a 7-1 victory over Loyola in Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader. Three Purdue players tallied multiple hits in the contest, while junior Brooke Baker set a record for career complete games with her 54th.
The Boilermakers acted as the visiting team in the night cap and wasted no time jumping on the scoreboard, tallying four runs on three hits and an error in the opening stanza. Sophomore Tiffany Krcelich (Granger, Ind.) reached on a one-out fielding error by the first baseman, then stole second setting the table for senior Becky Stone (Belleville, Ill.), who picked up the RBI with a double to left center. Senior Tricia Lilley (North Canton, Ohio) was hit by a pitch, then junior Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) singled to load the bases with two outs. Freshman Katie Mitchell (Crown Point, Ind.) cleared the bases with a double to left center, before being stranded by a fly out.
The Ramblers answered with one run on one hits and a Boilermaker error in the bottom of the inning. Tara Miller led off with a single to short center field, then stole second. She went to third on a ground out, before scoring as Raven Gengler reached on throwing error by the third baseman. A fly ball ended the stanza.
Purdue put runners at second and third in the next inning, but could not add to its lead. The Boilermakers posted a pair of two-out singles in the third, but again came up empty.
Loyola threatened in the third inning as two hits and a wild pitch put runners at the corners, but a fielder's choice kept them off the scoreboard.
Junior DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) and senior Kristen Schell (San Diego, Calif.) singled in the fifth but were left stranded at first and third by a fly out.
LUC also put two on in the fifth, but could not convert as a ground out left both runners on.
The Boilermakers added three runs on three hits in the sixth. Senior Staci Falzon (Carlsbad, Calif.) led off with a single through the right side. Junior Catherine Zaworski (Prospect Heights, Ill.) followed with a double to left putting runners at the corners for Stone. The senior again made good on the RBI opportunity with a double down the right field line. Stone went to third on the throw home, before scoring on a sacrifice fly by Lilley on the following play.
Mitchell posted her third hit of the game with a single up the middle to lead off the seventh. She went to third as Schell reached on an error by the third baseman. Mitchell and pinch runner Kelly Miller (Indianapolis, Ind.) moved into scoring position on a sacrifice by senior Lauren Devich (Bloomington, Ind.), but a pop up and line out ended the inning.
Loyola went down in order in the seventh to seal the Purdue sweep.
The Boilermakers scored seven runs on 11 hits. Mitchell, Stone and Schell each tallied multiple hits, while Stone accounted for five of the team's runs (3 RBI, 2 runs).
Baker (Schererville, Ind.) moved to 13-10 on the season with the complete-game effort which gave her the Purdue record in the category. Baker has tossed 54 complete games in her career, surpassing the previous record of 53 set by Sheryl Scheve (1996-98).
Purdue (25-21) returns to action at 4 p.m. Thursday when the team takes on Valparaiso in a weather rescheduled game.