March 15, 2007
MORAGA, Calif. - Eight different players tallied hits as the Boilermaker softball team racked up 10 runs on 14 hits in a 10-3 win over Saint Mary's Thursday afternoon.
Sophomore Candace Curtis (Danville, Calif.) went 3-for-4 to lead the offense, while junior Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.), sophomore Katie Mitchell (Crown Point, Ind.), and seniors DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) and Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) tallied two hits each.
The Boilermakers began the scoring with four runs on five hits and an error in the opening stanza. Hall singled down the right field line, advanced to second on a sacrifice and stole third, setting up the first run. Curtis singled to the shortstop to plate the run. Mitchell singled through the right side to put runners at first and second for Johnson, who delivered with a two-run double to right field. Johnson went to third on the throw home, then scored on a two-out single through the right side by Peterson. A pop up ended the inning.
Molly Bergeson singled to third base to start the home half of the first, but a fielder's choice and a double play kept them off the scoreboard.
Purdue tacked on three more runs on two hits and an error in the second. Hall walked, then advanced to second on a throwing error by the third baseman as freshman Ashley Barr (Meridian, Idaho) reached on the fielder's choice. Mitchell made good on the RBI opportunity with a two-out double to center, making it 6-0. Johnson followed with a double to left center, scoring Mitchell. A fly out brought the Gaels to bat.
The Boilermakers upped their lead to 10-0 with three runs on five hits in the third. Freshman Jenna Alexander (Rancho Murieta, Calif.) reached on a fielding error by the shortstop. A single to third base by sophomore Kelly Miller (Indianapolis, Ind.) pushed pinch runner Christina Trauger (Santa Rosa, Calif.) to second. A single to second base by Hall loaded the bases. Barr picked up the RBI with a single up the middle. Curtis singled to center field, plating Miller, but Hall was called out at the plate. An illegal pitch allowed Barr to score.
The offensive explosion continued as Purdue loaded the bases on a pair of hits and a walk in the fourth. Freshman Kelsey Haupert (Olympia, Wash.) and Peterson posted the base hits, while senior Catherine Zaworski (Prospect Heights, Ill.) drew a lead off walk. A strikeout and two fielder's choice plays kept the Boilermakers from adding to their advantage.
Freshman Sarah Killer (Wickenburg, Ariz.) saw her first collegiate action in the circle, taking over for starter Brooke Baker (Schererville, Ind.) in the fourth. Killer forced two pop ups and a ground ball, while allowing just one hit in the stanza.
Freshmen Amy Butcher (Decatur, Ind.) and Liz Allum (College Station, Texas) registered their first collegiate plate appearances in the fifth. Butcher was hit by a pitch with one out, then Allum reached on a walk. The next batter lined into a double play to bring Saint Mary's to the plate.
The Gaels were determined to avoid a mercy-rule loss and did just that, posting three runs on five hits in the bottom of the inning. A trio of singles loaded the bases. A fly out accounted for the second out of the stanza. The Boilermakers had a full count on the next batter, but could not close the door as pinch hitter Sadie Dolcini doubled to left center, clearing the bases and continuing the game. A fly out got Purdue out of the inning.
Both teams went down in order in the sixth.
Purdue got a base runner in the seventh as Hall drew a one-out walk, then stole second. A single to left center by Curtis pushed Hall to third. Curtis moved into scoring position, stealing second, but a fly out kept the Boilermakers from scoring.
Saint Mary's managed a hit in the final stanza, but could not hold off a Boilermaker victory.
Baker tossed five innings en route to the win, after returning to pitch the final two stanzas. Starter Chelsea Loftis (1-3), one of four SMC pitchers in the contest, took the loss after giving up seven runs in two innings of work.
The Boilermakers return to action at 12:30 p.m. (PST) when they take on Pittsburgh to open the Capitol Classic in Sacramento, Calif.