March 25, 2007
OXFORD, Ohio - The Purdue softball team wrapped up the Miami Softball Invitational title with a 9-0 mercy-rule win over Toledo on Sunday. Senior Brooke Baker tallied her 58th career victory, setting a new school record, while junior Ashley Hall swiped two bases moving her single season total to 28, tying that record.
Purdue racked up nine runs on 12 hits and four Rocket miscues, while allowing just three hits. Freshman Ashley Barr (Meridian, Idaho) led the Boilermakers with a 3-for-3 day at the plate, while Hall (Noblesville, Ind.), sophomore Kelly Miller (Indianapolis, Ind.) and freshman Kelsey Haupert (Olympia, Wash.) each posted two hits.
Baker struck out four in the record-setting complete-game win, while Stephanie Moore was saddled with the loss for Toledo after tossing the opening two innings. Sierra Pereira threw three innings of relief for the Rockets.
The Boilermakers wasted no time jumping up on the Rockets, posting three runs on four hits in the opening stanza. Hall got things started with a ringing single up the middle. Hall stole second and scored as Barr singled and was put out trying to advance to second on the play. Sophomore Katie Mitchell (Crown Point, Ind.) drew a walk and went to second on a wild pitch before scoring on an RBI single to right by Haupert. Sophomore Candace Curtis (Danville, Calif.) made it 3-0 with a double to left center.
Purdue tacked on another run on two hits in the second. Miller singled, stole second and scored as Barr tallied her second single of the game. Barr advanced to second on Toledo's throw home and went to third on a wild pitch, but was left stranded.
The Boilermakers hung a three-spot on the Rockets in the third inning, capitalizing on two hits and two errors. Curtis walked and went to third on a passed ball and a single to short left by senior DaQueta Johnson (Ontario, Calif.) Johnson advanced to second as the ball went under the glove of the left fielder following the hit. Pinch runner Catherine Zaworski and Curtis scored the following play as Peterson singled to center. Another Toledo fielding miscue moved her to second as the play continued. Peterson went to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a squeeze bunt laid down by sophomore Christina Trauger (Santa Rosa, Calif.).
The Rockets got their first base runner in the bottom of the third as Denise Van Vossen singled back to the pitcher. The next batter reached on a fielder's choice as Van Vossen went to second on a muffed throw by the shortstop. A pop up and ground out kept Toledo off the scoreboard.
Purdue combined three hits and two errors for a pair of runs in the fourth. Hall reached on a bunt single and stole second, before going to third on a bad throw by the shortstop. The steal tied the junior for the school single-season record with 28 swipes. Barr followed with a double to left, plating Hall, before advancing to third on a fielding error by the left fielder. A wild pitch brought her home. A walk and a single put Mitchell and Haupert on base, but a strikeout and two ground outs kept them from adding to their 9-0 lead.
Miller tallied her second hit of the contest with a one-out single in the fifth. A wild pitch and a ground out moved her to third. Freshman Kaity Stratten (Bloomington, Ind.) then hit a fly ball to the warning track in left field, but it was caught for the third out of the inning.
Toledo fought a run-rule loss tooth and nail in the fifth, putting runners on base with a pair of singles by Valerie Moxim and Van Vossen. The Boilermakers forced two ground outs to quash the rally and wrap up the mercy-rule win.
Purdue returns to action at 2 p.m. Wednesday when the Boilermakers play a doubleheader on the road against Valparaiso.