March 14, 2007
DAVIS, Calif. - The Boilermaker softball team shutout the UC Davis Aggies in Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader. Purdue racked up nine hits and senior Brooke Baker struck out four in the 5-0 win, which snapped a six-game draught for the Boilermakers.
Four different players tallied multi-hit days for Purdue as sophomores Candace Curtis (Danville, Calif.), Christina Trauger (Santa Rosa, Calif.) and Kelly Miller (Indianapolis, Ind.) and freshman Kelsey Haupert (Olympia, Wash.) posted two hits apiece. Curtis also earned three RBI on the day, while junior Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.) swiped two bases.
Baker (Schererville, Ind.) allowed just four hits and struck out four in the complete game victory, which moved her to 4-10 on the season. Jessica Hancock was saddled with the loss for UC Davis.
The Aggies put two on with single and a walk in the first, but were unable to score.
After leaving a runner on in both the third and fourth innings, the Boilermakers chalked up four runs on four hits and two errors in the fifth. Purdue loaded the bases with one out as Haupert, Trauger and Miller each posted singles. A fielder's choice put Hall aboard, but the force out at the plate marked the inning's second out. A fielding error by the third baseman put freshman Ashley Barr on base and scored Trauger. A single up the middle by Curtis drove in two more. Barr went to third on the play and Curtis advanced to second on the throw home. Another fielding error by the third baseman, brought Barr home, but Curtis was called out in a close play at the plate to wrap up the rally.
The Boilermakers tacked on an insurance run on two hits in the seventh. Hall reached on a fielder's choice, then stole second and third, setting the stage for Curtis, who came to the plate with two outs. The sophomore delivered with a single up the middle, picking her third RBI of the contest. A ground ball brought the Aggies to bat one final time.
UC Davis threatened to end Purdue's shutout bid in the bottom of the seventh as they put two on with one out. Mandi Salcido singled and stole second, before being joined on base by Deanna Menapace, who walked. A ground ball moved both into scoring position, but a grounder to second sealed the Boilermaker victory.
The Boilermakers look to extend their win streak to two with a win in the nightcap of the doubleheader, which is set to begin at 3 p.m. (PST).