Feb. 9, 2007
STARKVILLE, Miss. - The Boilermaker softball team opened its 2007 season with a 5-1 loss to Kennesaw State. Purdue was hampered by defensive miscues and missed offensive opportunities in the contest, but saw several newcomers make an impact in their first action in the Old Gold and Black.
The Boilermakers put two runners on in the opening stanza as freshman Kelsey Haupert (Olympia, Wash) earned a two-out walk and senior DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) was hit by a pitch. A fielder's choice ended the inning.
The Owls struck first with three runs on five walks and an error in the bottom of the stanza. KSU loaded the bases on three-straight walks, before scoring their first run on a fielding error by the third baseman. A strikeout accounted for the first out, but two more walks made it 3-0 in favor of the Owls. A fielder's choice and ground ball ended the stanza.
Sophomore Alicia Spack (West Lafayette, Ind.) recorded Purdue's first hit, with a single to the shortstop. She moved into scoring position on a sacrifice by senior Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.), but was unable to score.
Freshman Ashley Barr (Meridian, Idaho) singled in the third and was joined on base by Haupert, who walked, but neither made it around to score.
KSU boosted its lead to 5-0 with a pair of runs on three hits in the bottom of the inning. Amanda Malcom doubled to deep right center field, driving in Megan Gant and April Keasler, who reached on two-out singles.
The Boilermakers broke onto the scoreboard in the fifth inning with a run on a hit, two walks and a hit by pitch. Junior Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.) and Barr drew one-out walks. Johnson followed with a two-out single through the left side. Freshman Jenna Alexander (Rancho Murieta, Calif.) was then hit by a pitch to drive in Purdue's lone run of the day.
The Boilermakers scored one run on five hits, while allowing the Owls five runs on six hits and three errors. Purdue left 10 runners on base in the contest.
Norie Glazebrook earned the win for KSU, while senior Brooke Baker (Schererville, Ind.) was charged with the loss.
The Boilermakers return to action at 4 p.m. (CST) when they take on Mississippi State.