Feb. 24, 2007
MIAMI - The Boilermaker softball team scored early and often, racking up 15 runs on 13 hits, against Marist Saturday morning. Purdue won the game 15-2 in a five-inning mercy-rule shortened contest.
Seven different players tallied hits for the Boilermakers, led by senior DaQueta Johnson's 3-for-3 effort. Freshmen Kelsey Haupert (Olympia, Wash.) and Ashley Barr (Meridian, Idaho), sophomore Katie Mitchell (Crown Point, Ind.) and senior Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) also tallied multiple hits in the contest. Haupert and Peterson led the Boilermakers with four RBI each, while Mitchell and Haupert each accounted for three runs.
Senior pitcher Brooke Baker (Schererville, Ind.) earned the complete-game win, pushing her career record tally to 62. Jessica Green and Kristen Merlino split time on the mound for the Red Foxes, with Green taking the loss after pitching the opening two stanzas.
A pair of errors and a Johnson single up the middle gave Purdue its first run. Haupert reached on an error by the shortstop, then scored two batters later on a fielding error by the catcher as the throw came home on Johnson's single. Mitchell, who walked, went to third on Johnson's base hit. Peterson plated both runners with a double to right center.
Marist posted two hits in the bottom of the inning, but could not score.
The Boilermakers tacked on three more runs on four hits in the second. A leadoff walk started the offensive effort. Sophomore Kelly Miller (Indianapolis, Ind.) took the free pass and stole second. Junior Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.) moved her to third with a single to left center. Hall advanced to third on the throw home, setting the table for Haupert, who came through with a two-run double to left. Mitchell followed with a double up the left field line, bringing in Haupert. Johnson singled, advancing Mitchell to third, then swiped second marking her stolen base of the season. A Candace Curtis sacrifice fly scored Mitchell the following play.
Purdue loaded the bases in the third on a walk, a single and a hit by pitch, but could not add to its lead.
Marist snapped the shutout bid with one run on a hit and an error in the bottom of the stanza. With runners at first and second, the Red Foxes hit into a fielder's choice. The lead runner was out on the play, but the third baseman threw to first aiming for a double play and misfired. The ball went into the dugout, allowing both remaining runners to advance two bases, scoring Christine Jakobsen from second.
The Boilermakers broke the game open with eight runs on six hits in the fourth inning. Johnson picked up her third hit of the game with a double to right center to start the stanza. Curtis (Danville, Calif.) joined pinch runner Christina Trauger (Santa Rosa, Calif.) on base with a walk. The duo pulled off a double steal to move into scoring position for Peterson, who delivered with a two-run double to right center. A walk and a passed ball put pinch runners Catherine Zaworski (Prospect Heights, Ill.) and Traci Lippold (Greenwood, Ind.) in scoring position. Barr scored Lippold with a single to short and stole second. Hall walked to load the bases for Haupert, who scored two with a double to right. Mitchell drove in Haupert with a double to left, then scored on a two-out single by Curtis. A pop up ended the rally.
Marist did not give up, instead combined two hits and a ground ball for a run in the bottom of the fourth. Lindsey Kinel singled, then went to third on an Alison Catenacci double. A ground out to the first baseman was enough to give the Red Foxes their second run of the game.
Purdue wraps up its stay in Miami with a 10 a.m. Sunday contest against Texas State.