April 2, 2006
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - After an hour and 38 minute rain delay, Ohio State edged Purdue 3-0 in Game 1 of Sunday's softball doubleheader. The Boilermakers look to rebound with a win in the night cap of the twin bill.
OSU promptly put two aboard with a walk and an error in the first inning, but could not score.
The Boilermakers got their first base runner of the game in the second inning as senior Kristen Schell (San Diego, Calif.) drew a two-out walk.
The Buckeyes broke onto the scoreboard in the third with two runs on a pair of singles and a two-out double by Megan Schwab.
Purdue threatened in the fourth, putting runners at the corners on a fielder's choice and a single, but could not bring them home. Junior DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) reached on the fielder's choice then moved to third as freshman Katie Mitchell (Crown Point, Ind.) singled to right center. A ground out left both stranded.
Ohio State scored again in the fifth on two hits and a double steal. Nycole Koyano led off with a single and moved to third on a single and a fielder's choice, before stealing home to make it 3-0.
OSU had runners at second and third with one out in the sixth, but could not add to its lead.
The Boilermakers then loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the inning, but could not manage a run. Senior Becky Stone (Belleville, Ill.) drew a one-out walk. She then moved to second on a single by senior Tricia Lilley (North Canton, Ohio). Mitchell earned a two-out walk to fill the bases, but a strikeout kept Purdue from scoring.
Both teams went down in order to end the game.
Purdue tallied three hits in the game, two by Lilley, while OSU scored three runs on eight hits.
Kim Reeder (9-6) earned the complete-game victory for the Buckeyes, while junior Brooke Baker (Schererville, Ind.) struck our four batters in a complete-game effort for Purdue.
The Boilermakers will look to even the series with a win in the nightcap of the doubleheader which is set to begin at 2:55 p.m.