April 17, 2007
INDIANAPOLIS - The Purdue softball team racked up 16 runs on 17 hits en route to a 16-4 win over IUPUI in Game 2 of the doubleheader. The Boilermakers continued their success at the plate, adding two home runs, including a grand slam by lefty Christina Trauger, to their Game 1 tally of four.
Purdue scored 16 runs on 17 hits, including multi-hit efforts by five different players. Curtis and Trauger each went 3-for-4, while Peterson and Barr each were 3-for-3 at the plate. Trauger tallied a season-best six RBI in the contest, while Hall and added two hits and two stolen bases to the team's tally.
Sophomore Ashley DiDomenico (Youngstown, Ohio) struck out two in the complete-game victory for Purdue, while three different pitchers saw action for the Jaguars, with starter Jessica McGown taking the loss.
The Boilermakers posted eight runs on six hits and an error in the opening stanza. Sophomore Candace Curtis (Danville, Calif.) drove in the first run with a single through the right side, plating junior Ashley Hall, who singled, went to second on an error and stole third. Sophomore Alicia Spack (West Lafayette, Ind.) drew a bases loaded walk to make it 2-0. Trauger (Santa Rosa, Calif.) kicked off her three hit performance with a two-run double to left center. Mitchell plated two more runs with a single up the middle. Hall made it 7-0 with an infield single, then stole second as Mitchell swiped home.
IUPUI answered with a run on two hits in the bottom of the inning. A pair of singles and a walk accounted for the score.
Purdue tacked on five more runs in the second. Freshman Kelsey Haupert (Olympia, Wash.) led off with a home run to right center. Peterson and Barr singled, then pinch runner Amy Butcher (Decatur, Ind.) and Barr moved into scoring position with a double steal. Spack walked to load the bases, setting the table for Trauger's first career home run, a grand slam over the wall in right center.
Curtis doubled and went to third on a wild pitch in the third inning, before scoring on a single up the middle by senior Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.).
The Jaguars answered with three runs in the bottom of the inning. An error gave IUPUI a base runner. A single and a fielder's choice put runners at first and second. Keshia Loweth doubled to left field to score one run, while Mandy Buckwalter followed with a two-run single to right to cap the scoring for the team.
A pair of singles and a ground out gave Purdue two runners in scoring position in the fourth. Curtis singled to left field to plate one run, then the left fielder misplayed the ball, allowing a second to score.
Peterson and freshman Ashley Barr (Meridian, Idaho) singled in the fifth, but could not make it home.
Sarah Needy singled and stole second in the bottom of the fifth for IUPUI, but was left stranded as a fly out and ground out capped the Purdue run-rule victory.
The Boilermakers return to action at 4 p.m. Wednesday when they take on the Valparaiso Crusaders in a single game in Valparaiso, Ind.