Feb. 24, 2008
GREENVILLE, Ind. - An offense barrage and tough pitching helped the Boilermakers overcome a 6-3 deficit en route to victory over Appalachian State at the Pirate Classic on Sunday. Purdue won the game 10-7 as the Boilermaker batters racked up 14 hits and junior Dana Alcocer struck out nine Mountaineers.
Purdue scored 10 runs on 14 hits and two ASU miscues, while the Mountaineers tallied seven runs on nine hits. Junior Christina Trauger went 3-for-3 with two RBI and a run in the contest, while three other players - junior Candace Curtis, sophomore Ashley Barr and freshman Beth Cinadr - tallied two hits each. Eight different Boilermakers posted hits in the victory.
Alcocer (5-1) struck out nine in the complete game victory, her second of the day.
It took Purdue just two batters to score its first run. Senior Ashley Hall led off with a triple to deep center field, then crossed the plate the following play on a ground ball to short. The Boilermakers managed three more base runners in the inning, but could not add to their advantage.
The Boilermakers tacked on two more runs in the second as Cinadr sent a single through the left side with the bases juiced. Hall, who was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a single by Barr and a fielder's choice, came home on the hit.
Trauger gave Purdue another scoring opportunity with a two-out triple in the third, but was left stranded.
After three hitless innings, Appalachian State turned the tables on the Boilermakers, posting six runs on six hits in the fourth. The Mountaineers tallied five singles and a double in the stanza, while also scoring on a fielder's choice and a wild pitch.
Purdue countered with four runs on three hits in the bottom of the inning to retake the lead. Junior Candace Curtis drew a two-out walk, then scored on a Cinadr double. Junior Katie Mitchell followed with a single that stayed just fair in short left field, driving in Cinadr. The Boilermakers filled the bases as senior Tara Palmer was hit by a pitch and freshman Beth Rzegocki walked. Trauger put Purdue back on top with a two-run double up the left field line. Rzegocki was out on the play as she turned for home and was unable to get back to third in time.
The Boilermakers extended their lead to three with two runs in the fifth. Hall reached on a fielding error by the third baseman, then took second on the back end of a double steal attempt. A bunt single and some nifty base running brought her in to score. Barr laid down the bunt and kept going toward second on the play. The Mountaineers bit and threw to second as Hall scampered home. Barr scored in a more traditional way, crossing the plate as Curtis singled to left.
Purdue then combined two walks, a fielder's choice and a single for a run in the sixth. Trauger walked, then rounded the bases on a single by junior Kelly Miller, a fielder's choice and a bases loaded walk, which was issued to Barr. A strikeout left three runners stranded.
Appalachian State would not go down easily, as Katie Boyd launched a home run with two outs in the seventh. The next batter followed with a single up the left field line, but a ground ball to third base capped the win.
The Boilermakers (9-2) return to action on Friday when they take on UC Davis at the Worth Invitational in Fullerton, Calif.