April 1, 2007
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermaker softball team found itself on the short end of a 6-1 contest against Iowa in Game 1 of Sunday's doubleheader. Purdue, which managed just three hits in the game, looks to rebound with a win in Game 2 of the twin bill.
Purdue got its first base runner in the bottom of the first as freshman Ashley Barr (Meridian, Idaho) drew a one-out walk and was sacrificed to second. A strikeout, however, kept her from scoring.
The Boilermakers scored first, plating a run on two hits and a sacrifice in the second. Sophomore Candace Curtis (Danville, Calif.) led off with a single to deep short. A sacrifice and a wild pitch pushed her to third as freshman Jenna Alexander (Rancho Murieta, Calif.) came to the plate. Alexander delivered on the RBI opportunity with a double off the centerfield wall.
Iowa managed two hits in the third, but the Boilermaker defense held.
Barr was hit by a pitch to lead off the third, then moved to second on a sacrifice. Curtis filled the hole at first when she was hit by pitch with two outs. A strikeout left both on base.
The Hawkeyes made it a one-run game with a run on two hits and an error in the fourth. A single and a sacrifice put pinch runner Callie Adreon on second. Colleen McGlaughlin then singled to short, pushing the runner to third, but the shortstop's throw to first sailed into the Iowa dugout advancing each of the runners another base, scoring the run.
Iowa tacked on two more runs on three hits and an error in the fifth to take the lead. Two singles, a walk and a fielder's choice loaded the bases for the Hawkeyes with one out. A fielding error by the shortstop on a fielder's choice play pushed the first run across. A single to centerfield drove the second run in. A fielder's choice play at the plate and a ground out prevented further damage and left three stranded.
Junior Ashley Hall (Noblesville, Ind.) registered a bunt single to start the fifth. Hall was caught attempting to steal second and left the game following the play due to injury. A strikeout and line out brought Iowa to the plate.
The Hawkeyes racked up three runs on two hits and an error in the sixth to make it 6-1. Mindy Heidgerken singled and stole second, before moving to third on a fielding error by the third baseman, which put Lindsey Digmann on base. Erin Riemersma drove in both with a three-run shot over the left field wall.
The Boilermakers had one last chance in the bottom of the seventh as Alexander drew a lead-off walk. Pinch runner Christina Trauger (Santa Rosa, Calif.) went to second on a ground out, but a pair of strikeouts wrapped up the Iowa victory.
Purdue scored one run on three hits, while Iowa managed six runs on 10 hits. Brittany Weil picked up the complete-game win for the Hawkeyes, while senior Brooke Baker struck out three while going the distance for the Boilermakers.
Purdue looks to settle the score in Game 2 of the twin bill.