March 11, 2007
FRESNO, Calif. - The Purdue softball team made a valiant effort at a comeback, but could not overcome Colorado State in a 5-3 contest on Sunday. Sophomore Candace Curtis led the Boilermakers with a 3-for-4 effort at the plate in the contest.
The Rams scored first with a run on a hit in the opening stanza. Lauren Cusick singled and advanced to third on a sacrifice and a ground out, before scoring on a passed ball.
Curtis (Danville, Calif.) gave Purdue a base runner with a two-out single to left center in the bottom of the inning, but could not score.
A two-run home run by Shannon Causgrove in the second and a solo shot by Allison Majam in the fourth made it 4-0 Colorado State.
Purdue put a runner in scoring position in the fourth, but to no avail. Curtis singled up the middle and went to second as senior Erika Peterson (Irvine, Calif.) was hit by a pitch, but both were left stranded.
The Boilermakers broke onto the scoreboard in the fifth as a fielder's choice put sophomore Kelly Miller (Indianapolis, Ind.) on with two outs. Miller stole second, before scoring on a single up the middle by junior Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.).
A pair of two-out hits gave Colorado State another run. Rebecca Penland picked up the RBI with a double to right.
A two-run sixth inning put the game back within reach for the Boilermakers. Sophomore Katie Mitchell (Crown Point, Ind.) drove in the first run with a triple deep into the right field corner. The hit plated pinch runner Amy Butcher (Decatur, Ind.), who had taken the place of Curtis, who led off with a sharp single back at the pitcher. Sophomore Alicia Spack (West Lafayette, Ind.) reached on a two-out fielding error by the second baseman, allowing Mitchell to score.
The Rams went down in order in the seventh, opening the door for a Boilermaker comeback. Freshman Ashley Barr (Meridian, Idaho) drew a two-out walk from relief pitcher Cayte Billman keeping hope alive for Purdue, but a ground out sealed the Ram victory.
Purdue scored three runs on five hits, while allowing Colorado State five runs on seven hits. Curtis led the Boilermaker bats with a 3-for-4 effort.
Jessica Strickland earned the win for CSU, while Billman picked up the save. Senior Brooke Baker (Schererville, Ind.) was saddled with the loss for Purdue despite striking out four in the complete game effort.
The Boilermakers return to action at 6 p.m. Tuesday when they take on the Fresno State Bulldogs in a double header.