April 15, 2007
MADISON, Wis. - The Purdue softball team extended its win streak to five games with a 4-3 victory over Wisconsin in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader. The Purdue offense scored four runs on seven hits in the contest as senior Brooke Baker struck out seven Badgers in the complete-game victory.
The Badgers put a runner in scoring position in the second as Athena Vasquez drew a leadoff walk and went to second on a single by Ricci Robben. A fielder's choice and a ground ball to shortstop kept Wisconsin off the scoreboard.
The Boilermakers got their first baserunner in the top of the third as senior Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) drew a leadoff walk. A fielder's choice saw pinch runner Amy Butcher (Decatur, Ind.) out at second, but put senior Catherine Zaworski (Prospect Heights, Ill.) on base. Zaworski stole second, before being joined on base by sophomore Katie Mitchell (Crown Point, Ind.), who was intentionally walked. A fielder's choice ended the inning.
Purdue broke onto the scoreboard with a run on a hit in the fourth. Freshman Kelsey Haupert (Olympia, Wash.) reached on a one-out walk and went to third on double to left by freshman Jenna Alexander (Rancho Murieta, Calif.). Sophomore Alicia Spack (West Lafayette, Ind.) laid down the squeeze bunt and Haupert beat the throw home. Pinch runner Ashley Barr rounded third aiming to score as Spack turned toward second, but was tagged out at the plate.
The Boilermakers tacked on two more runs on three hits and a Badger error in the fifth. Sophomore Christina Trauger (Santa Rosa, Calif.) reached on a fielding error by the shortstop, then scored as Mitchell launched a one-out home run to left center. Junior Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.) followed with a bunt single, but was caught stealing for the second out of the inning. Sophomore Candace Curtis (Danville, Calif.) doubled to center and was joined by Haupert, who walked. The rally prompted a Wisconsin pitching change as Leah Vanevenhoven took over in the circle and forced a line drive to the second baseman to strand both.
Wisconsin put two on with two out in the bottom of the inning after a pair of Boilermaker fielding miscues, but a ground ball to third base kept the Badgers scoreless.
Peterson doubled down the left field line in the sixth, but could not score.
The Badgers also threatened in the sixth, putting two on but left both stranded.
Purdue capped its offensive output with a run on two hits in the seventh. Hall hit a one-out single to center, then Haupert drew a two-out walk. Alexander was hit by a pitch to load the bases, setting the table for Spack, who picked up the RBI with a single through the left side. Haupert was called out trying to steal home and what could have been a passed ball to end the inning.
Wisconsin would not go down easily, tallying three runs on four hits in the final stanza. Lynn Anderson, Joey Daniels and Samantha Polito filled the base paths with trio of one-out singles. Katie Hnatyk grounded out to the shortstop to put the Badgers on the board. Athena Vasquez followed with a double to center, plating two more. A ground ball to first base sealed the Purdue win.
Purdue scored four runs on seven hits and a Badger error, while Wisconsin managed three runs on seven hits and two Boilermaker miscues. Hall went 2-for-4 to lead the Boilermakers at the plate.
Baker (Schererville, Ind.) struck out seven in the complete game victory for Purdue, while starting pitcher Letty Olivarez was saddled with the loss for Wisconsin.
The Boilermakers look to finish the series sweep in Game 2 of the doubleheader.