March 24, 2007
OXFORD, Ohio - Sophomore Katie Mitchell registered a school record-tying two home runs and sophomore Alicia Spack celebrated her birthday with a two-run double as Purdue topped Michigan State 7-3 in a non-conference battle on Saturday.
A second-inning home run by Nicole Mercado put Michigan State on top. A pair of fourth-inning hits and a sacrifice made it a 2-0 game.
The Boilermakers took the lead with four runs on two hits and two errors in the fourth. Mitchell (Crown Point, Ind.) tied the game with a two-run shot to dead center with one out. After long foul balls to the left and right, Mitchell straightened it with the long ball to center, plating junior Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.) who reached on an error by the shortstop to start the inning. A four-pitch walk put freshman Kelsey Haupert (Olympia, Wash.) on base and brought on a new Spartan pitcher. Lesley Noel relieved Rachel Turney in the circle, but she could not slow the Purdue rally. Another walk and a fielding error by the second baseman filled the bases. A fielder's choice kept the bases full with two out. Spack (West Lafayette, Ind.) came in to pinch hit and made good on the opportunity with a double to right center, plating two runs. A ground ball left two stranded.
Mitchell tied the school single game record for home runs with a two-run dinger off the scoreboard in right center in the fifth. The round tripper drove in Hall who singled to lead off the inning and moved to third on a ground ball and a stole base.
Purdue tacked on an insurance run in the sixth on a hit and an error. Senior Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) put a one-out single into right field. Pinch runner Amy Butcher (Decatur, Ind.) was sacrificed to second, then stole third before scoring as sophomore Kelly Miller (Indianapolis, Ind.) reached on a fielding error by the third baseman.
The Spartans got one run back in seventh inning, but could not manage a comeback. The Spartans loaded the bases on a walk, a single and an error. Dayna Feenstra punched a two-out single into left to score the run, but senior Ashley DiDomenico (Youngstown, Ohio) struck out the next batter to seal the win.
The Boilermakers scored seven runs on five hits and three MSU miscues, while the Spartans managed three runs on seven hits and two Purdue errors. Mitchell went 2-for-3 in the game with four RBI and two runs.
DiDomenico struck out five in the complete-game victory, while starting pitcher Rachel Turney was charged with the loss after giving up three runs in just over three innings of work.
Purdue (16-21-1) wraps up its stay in Oxford, Ohio, with a 10 a.m. Sunday contest against Toledo.