Feb. 17, 2008
WACO, Texas - The Boilermaker softball team wrapped up a 4-0 weekend and the Getterman Classic tournament title with an 8-0 mercy rule win over Centenary Sunday afternoon.
Purdue scored eight runs on 10 hits, including four multi-hit efforts. Senior Ashley Hall, juniors Candace Curtis and Kelly Miller and freshman Suzie Rzegocki each tallied two hits in the contest. Curtis went 2-for-2 with two runs and two RBI.
Rzegocki (4-1) allowed just two hits and struck out six in the complete-game victory. Lauren Highsmith (0-3) was charged with the loss for Centenary after allowing five runs in one plus inning of work. Stacy Whitmer threw the remaining three innings for the Ladies.
The Boilermakers tallied three runs on four hits in the bottom of the first. Hall and sophomore Ashley Barr singled to start the inning. Freshman Beth Cinadr followed with a single to right field, driving in Hall. Cinadr continued on to second base on the play, prompting a throw from the catcher, which sailed into center field. The miscue allowed Barr to score from third. Purdue proceeded to load the bases with a walk and a hit by Rzegocki. A fielder's choice accounted for the inning's second out, but junior Christina Trauger drew a two-out walk the following play to make it 3-0.
Purdue tacked on three more runs on two hits in the second. Hall sent a leadoff triple to the wall in left center. Barr walked and continued on to second drawing a throw, which sailed into centerfield. Hall scored on the throw to second, while Barr wound up at third on the play. Cinadr drew a walk, giving Purdue runners at first and third as junior Katie Mitchell came to the plate. Barr was out in a rundown between third and home as Mitchell reached on a fielder's choice. Cinadr advanced to third on the play, then scored as Centenary threw to second to keep Mitchell from taking the base. Curtis drove Mitchell home with a double to left center. A pop up and ground out eventually ended the stanza.
The Boilermakers took advantage of another Centenary miscue for a run in the third. Miller singled to short left field, was sacrificed to second and took third on an illegal pitch. The centerfielder then dropped a two-out fly ball hit by Cinadr, bringing Miller in to score.
Purdue made it an 8-0 game as Curtis led off the fourth with a towering shot over the wall in left center. Rzegocki followed with a double to center, but was caught trying to extend the hit into a triple. A strikeout stranded runners at second and third after a hit by pitch and a single by Miller.
The Boilermakers (6-2) return to action on Friday when they take on Appalachian State at the Pirate Classic in Greenville, N.C.