March 18, 2007
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Boilermaker softball ended the Capitol Classic with a perfect 5-0 record after topping Idaho State in an 8-0 mercy-rule game on Sunday morning. The victory, which was Purdue's sixth straight, featured eight hits including three home runs.
The Boilermakers took advantage of a Bengal miscue to get on the scoreboard in the opening stanza. Freshman Ashley Barr reached on a throwing error by the third baseman, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch, setting the stage for sophomore Katie Mitchell (Crown Point, Ind.), who drove her in with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Freshman Jenna Alexander (Rancho Murieta, Calif.) made it 2-0 as she sent a two-out pitch sailing over the fence in right field for her first career home run. Sophomore Alicia Spack (West Lafayette, Ind.) followed with a single up the middle, but could not score.
Barr got on base again in the third with a two-out single to short. She moved to second on a ground out, but the Boilermakers were unable to bring her home.
Idaho State tallied its first hit of the game with a third-inning single, but could not convert on the opportunity.
The Boilermakers stranded a runner in the fourth after senior Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) drew a one-out walk.
Purdue broke the game open in the fifth with six runs on five hits and three Bengal miscues. Sophomore Kelly Miller (Indinapolis, Ind.) reached on an error to start the inning and advanced to second on a single through the left side by junior Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.). Barr singled to third base and went to second on a throwing error by the third baseman. Hall advanced to third on the play as Miller scored. Sophomore Katie Mitchell (Crown Point, Ind.) cleared the bases with a three-run shot to center field. Freshman Kelsey Haupert (Olympia, Wash.) followed with a one-out solo home run to center. The Boilermakers put two on again with two outs on a walk and a single to left by Spack. Pinch runner Christina Trauger (Santa Rosa, Calif.) scored the following play as Miller reached on a throwing error by the third baseman. A pop up brought ISU to the plate.
The Bengals put two runners on with a walk, a fielder's choice and a single through the left side, but a fly out to left field brought the Boilermakers' record to 5-0 at the Capitol Classic.
Purdue scored eight runs on eight hits and four Bengal miscues, while the Boilermakers allowed just two hits. Barr and Spack each went 2-for-3 in the contest, while Mitchell racked up four RBI.
Senior Brooke Baker (Schererville, Ind.) moved to 10-10 on the season after striking out five in her sixth straight victory. Lindsay Boughton was charged with the loss for ISU.
The Boilermakers (13-21) return to action at 4 p.m. Tuesday when they take on IUPUI in a doubleheader in Indianapolis.