April 9, 2006
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Boilermaker softball team recorded one of the biggest victories in program history, downing No. 12 Michigan 5-4 in Game 2 of Sunday's doubleheader. The win marked Purdue's first over the Wolverines since April 8, 1997 and first ever in Ann Arbor, and also the team's first win over a Top 15 team since beating No. 13 Iowa on April 16, 2000. The five runs also ties the Boilermakers' best offensive output against UM, matching a five-run tally on March 26, 1995.
"We came out and competed," head coach Kim Maher said. "We put things in perspective. We told the team that noone expects us to win, that if we came in and played clean softball, we can put the pressure on other team. They outhit us, but we put the ball in play and they had five errors.
"This is a big deal for our team. They now know they have what it takes to beat a top 15 team. This just reinforces that it doesn't matter who you play, you need to focus on your team and just play behind your pitcher. The true testament to the type of team that we are will be how we come out and play on Tuesday."
The Wolverines scored first with a run on a sacrifice fly by Grace Leutele. The fly ball to right scored Tiffany Haas, who singled to start the game.
The Boilermakers answered with three runs on two hit and two UM miscues in the bottom of the inning as they batted through the order. The runs snapped a 42-inning scoreless streak for Michigan pitcher Lorilyn Wilson. Senior Tricia Lilley (North Canton, Ohio) put Purdue on the board with a double to left, driving in senior Staci Falzon (Carlsbad, Calif.) and sophomore Tiffany Krcelich (Granger, Ind.) from second and third. Falzon walked and Krcelich reached on a botched fielder's choice attempt, before a sacrifice moved both into scoring position. Lilley stole third before sliding under a tag at the plate as junior DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) reached on a fielder's choice. Junior Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) singled, prompting a UM pitching change as Jennie Ritter relieved Wilson. The Boilermakers loaded the bases with an error by the shortstop, but could not add to its tally.
Johnson made it 5-1 with a two-run shot over the center field wall. The home run scored Lilley who reached on a three-base error by the center fielder.
Michigan left runners stranded at first and third in the fifth as sophomore pitcher Melissa Burns (Miami, Fla.) sat Samantha Findlay down looking after a nine-pitch at-bat.
Lilley singled in the bottom of the inning and went to second as the shortstop's throw was off the mark. She then stole third, but could not make it around to score.
The Wolverines loaded the bases with one out in the sixth, but the Purdue defense executed a fielder's choice force out at the plate and Burns struck out the next batter to escape the inning unscathed.
Giampaolo and Findlay recorded back to back doubles with one out in the seventh to keep the game going. Becky Marx followed with a single to left center to score Findlay. A fielder's choice marked the second out of the inning as the Boilermakers got Marx at second after a head's up play by freshman Kelly Miller, picking up the deflection of a laser that kareemed off the glove of Burns. A single to short center by Angie Danis plated another run, before pinch hitter Tiffany Worthy hit a fly out to center field to seal the Purdue win.
The Boilermakers scored five runs on four hits, led by Lilley's 2-for-3 performance, while Michigan scored four runs on eight hits and committed five errors.
Burns (3-1) earned the complete game victory, striking out eight batters, including two looking. Lorilyn Wilson (10-5) was saddled with the loss for Michigan after giving up three runs in the opening stanza.
The Boilermakers (23-21, 3-5 Big Ten) return to action at 2 p.m. Tuesday when they play host to Loyola (Chicago) in a doubleheader.