March 16, 2007
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Boilermaker softball team extended its win streak to two games with an 8-0 mercy rule win over Pittsburgh on Friday. The victory kicked off Purdue's stay at the Capitol Classic in Sacramento, the final leg of the team's spring break tour of northern California.
The Boilermakers racked up eight runs on nine hits and a Pitt miscue, while the Panthers managed just three hits. Freshman Kelsey Haupert (Olympia, Wash.) went 2-for-2 with a home run, two runs and two RBI in the game, while sophomore Katie Mitchell (Crown Point, Ind.) posted a 2-for-3 performance.
Senior Brooke Baker (Schererville, Ind.) struck out three in the complete-game victory, while starter Meghan Bostick was charged with the loss for Pitt, giving up eight runs in two innings of work.
Purdue stranded a runner in the opening stanza, then Pittsburgh left two on after posting two hits in the bottom of the inning.
The Boilermakers then put up four runs on four hits in the second. Senior DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) walked and went to second on a sacrifice. A single up the middle by Haupert gave Purdue runners at first and third. A single through the left side by freshman Jenna Alexander (Rancho Murieta, Calif.) plated Johnson and pushed Haupert to third. Alexander advanced to second on the throw from center field. Sophomore Kelly Miller (Indianapolis, Ind.) singled to the pitcher to load the bases for junior Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.). Hall cleared the bases with a triple to deep center field. A ground ball and fly out kept Hall from scoring.
Purdue tacked on four more runs on three hits in the third. Mitchell started the inning with a single through the left side, then scored as Johnson launched a homer into left field. Senior Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) followed with a walk, then Haupert hit a two-run bomb, the first of her career, over the center field fence. Alexander was hit by a pitch, prompting a pitching change for the Panthers. Pinch runner Christina Trauger (Santa Rosa, Calif.) was caught stealing and two strikeouts wrapped up the stanza.
The Panthers managed a third-inning single, but could not score the runner.
The Boilermakers had runners in scoring position again in the fourth, but could not add to their lead. Sophomore Candace Curtis (Danville, Calif.) singled up the middle and Mitchell followed with a single to center field. A passed ball moved pinch runner Traci Lippold (Greenwood, Ind.) and Mitchell into scoring position, but a pair of ground outs kept the score at 8-0.
Purdue had a scoring opportunity in the fifth, but failed to plate its two base runners. Haupert drew a lead-off walk. Hall earned a free pass with two outs, pushing pinch runner Amy Butcher (Decatur, Ind.) to second, but a strikeout brought Pittsburgh to the plate for a final time.
The Panthers put a runner on with two outs on a Boilermaker fielding miscue, but Baker struck out the final batter to give Purdue the early-exit victory.
The Boilermakers (9-21) return to action at 5:30 p.m. (PST) when they take on the Colorado State Rams.