March 24, 2007
OXFORD, Ohio - The Boilermaker softball team topped Toledo for the second time this season, posting a 4-1 win over the Rockets. Purdue supported a complete-game effort by senior Brooke Baker with eight hits including a home run by freshman Kelsey Haupert.
The Boilermakers racked up four runs on eight hits. Sophomore Candace Curtis (Danville, Calif.) and senior DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) each posted two hits for Purdue.
Baker (Schererville, Ind.) struck out four en route to the complete-game victory, while Hannah Rockhold was saddled with the loss after tossing the opening five innings for Toledo.
The Boilermakers put runners on in each of the first two innings, but could not push a run across the plate. Freshman Ashley Barr (Meridian, Idaho) drew a first-inning walk. Johnson was hit by a pitch in the second and advanced to third on a sacrifice and wild pitch, but could not score.
The Rockets loaded the bases with two outs in the third, but Purdue kept the shutout intact with a caught foul ball. A double, single and walk accounted for the base runners.
Purdue put their lead off batter on base in the third as sophomore Kelly Miller (Indianapolis, Ind.) took advantage of a fielding miscue by the Rocket third baseman. She was sacrificed to second, but was left stranded by a pair of fly balls.
The Boilermaker snapped the scoreless tie with a run on two hits in the fourth. Curtis got things started by lasering a one-out double up the left field line. Pinch runner Amy Butcher (Decatur, Ind.) went to third on a single roped to left field by Johnson. Johnson and Butcher pulled off a brilliant double steal to make it a 1-0 game. A fly out and ground out kept Johnson from scoring.
Toledo threatened in the fifth, using a single, a wild pitch and a sacrifice to put Andrea Wabol on third with one out, but the Boilermakers caught her trying to score on a fielder's choice.
Junior Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.) left a perfect bunt single just in front of the batter's box with one out in the bottom of the inning. Hall stole second and third before being joined on base by Barr. The duo tried to pull of a double steal for a run, but was instead doubled up to end the inning.
After a 1-2-3 sixth by the Rockets, the Purdue bats caught fire as the team racked up three runs on five hits. Sophomore Katie Mitchell (Crown Point, Ind.) led off with a single to short, then scored as freshman Kelsey Haupert (Olympia, Wash.) launched her fifth home run of the season. The Boilermakers then proceeded to load the bases with no outs to continue the rally. Curtis doubled off the wall in left center, then Johnson hit a high fly ball to the wall in center, recording a double and pushing Curtis to third. The hits prompted a Toledo pitching change, as Sierra Pereira took the circle. Freshman Christina Trauger (Santa Rosa, Calif.) drew a walk to juice the bases for pinch hitter Alicia Spack (West Lafayette, Ind.). Spack made good on the RBI opportunity with a single through the left side. A fielder's choice and ground out kept Purdue from adding to its 4-0 lead.
The Rockets spoiled Purdue's shutout bid, taking advantage of a Boilermaker fielding error. Pinch hitter Sara Agnew reached on the miscue by the shortstop. Pinch runner Valerie Moxom went to third on a sacrifice and a ground ball, before scoring on a Leslie Stong double down the left field line. A ground out to first base sealed the Purdue win.
The Boilermakers wrap up Day 2 of the Miami Softball Invitational with a noon contest against Michigan State.