Feb. 16, 2007
LAFAYETTE, La. - The Purdue softball team used sound defense and timely hitting to garner its first win of the season, a 3-0 shutout over Iowa State.
The Boilermakers put two on with two outs in the second inning, but could not score. Sophomore Alicia Spack (West Lafayette, Ind.) drew a one-out walk and stole second. Freshman Ashley Barr (Meridian, Idaho) pushed Spack to third with an infield single, then stole second putting both in scoring position. Sophomore Kelly Miller (Indianapolis, Ind.) followed with a slow roller up the third baseline, but Spack was caught away from third base to end the inning.
Purdue broke onto the scoreboard with a run on a hit and an error in the third. Senior Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) tapped a two-out double off the center field wall, then scored as freshman Kelsey Haupert (Olympia, Wash.) reached on a fielding error by the shortstop. Haupert stole second, but was left stranded.
ISU put two on in the fifth, but came up empty.
The Boilermakers tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the seventh on two hits and an error. Senior DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) doubled up the right field line. Barr attempted to put down a sacrifice bunt, but the pitcher's throw to first sailed into right field, allowing her to go to second and pinch runner Amy Butcher (Decatur, Ind.) to score. Barr went to third on a sacrifice before scoring on an Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.) chopper to short.
Iowa State went down in order to clinch Purdue its first win of the season.
The Boilermakers scored three runs on seven hits and two Cyclone errors, while ISU managed just four hits in the contest. Hall went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and swiped two bases, while five other Purdue players managed hits.
Sophomore Ashley DiDomenico (Youngstown, Ohio) earned the victory for Purdue, after striking out two in the complete game effort. Amie Ford (1-2) was saddled with the loss for ISU after giving up a run in the third inning before exiting the game an inning later.
The Boilermakers return to action at 7 p.m. (CST) when they take on No. 17 Baylor.