March 18, 2007
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Boilermaker softball team extended its win streak to five games with a 4-2 victory over Georgia Southern Saturday night. Purdue scored four runs on seven hits, two errors and five walks, while senior Brooke Baker struck out five in a complete-game effort.
Freshman Kelsey Haupert (Olympia, Wash.) went 2-for-4 in the contest to lead the Boilermaker bats.
The Boilermakers put up three runs on a hit, an error, three walks and a hit by pitch. Sophomore Katie Mitchell (Crown Point, Ind.) drew a two-out walk to start the rally. Senior DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) followed with a single to third base. Freshman Kelsey Haupert (Olympia, Wash.) loaded the bases after reaching on a fielding error by the shortstop. Senior Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) was hit by a pitch to drive in Purdue's first run. Logan Free walked sophomore Christina Trauger (Santa Rosa, Calif.) and sophomore Alicia Spack (West Lafayette, Ind.) to plate two more runs and prompt a GSU pitching change. A.J. Street entered the game and forced a ground out to get the Eagles out of the bases loaded jam.
Lindsey Hopkins hit a lead-off single for Georgia Southern, but was unable to score after a Purdue double play.
Mitchell sent a two-out single up the middle in the second, but a fielder's choice kept Purdue from adding to its lead.
The Eagles put a runner in scoring position in the bottom of the inning as Robyne Siliga singled and stole second, but a Boilermaker double play kept GSU from converting.
Haupert tallied her first hit of the game with a single up the middle to open the third stanza. She was sacrifice over to second, but a strikeout and line out left her stranded.
Georgia Southern broke onto the scoreboard with two runs on three hits in the home half of the third. A hit by pitch and two singles loaded the bases with one out. A fielder's choice scored the first run and a single to left field by pinch hitter Katie Smith plated the second. A strikeout and ground out prevented further damage.
Sophomore Kelly Miller (Indianapolis, Ind.) was hit by a pitch and stole second to start the fourth. Freshman Jenna Alexander (Rancho Murieta, Calif.) filled the open spot at first with a one-out walk. A fielder's choice put Mitchell aboard and pushed Miller to third. Mitchell then stole second, but a ground out left both runners on base.
Senior Catherine Zaworski (Prospect Heights, Ill.) sent a pinch hit triple into right field with two outs in the fifth, but could not score. The Boilermakers put two on with a hit and an error in the sixth, but again came up empty.
Purdue scored an insurance run in the seventh. Haupert led off with a single to second base, before being joined on base by Peterson, who walked. Spack picked up the RBI with a one-out single to left. A strikeout and fielder's choice held the Boilermakers to a single score.
Nina Iduate kept hope alive for the Eagles with a two-out single through the left side in the final stanza. A fielder's choice put runners at first and second for GSU, but a liner to first base sealed the Purdue win.
The Boilermakers (12-21) return to action at 8:30 a.m. (PST) when they take on Idaho State to wrap up the Capitol Classic.