Feb. 8, 2008
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The Boilermaker softball team started its 2008 season with a 5-4 come-from-behind victory over Jacksonville State on Friday. Purdue overcame a 4-2 deficit, clinching the win with a bases loaded sacrifice fly by junior Candace Curtis in the bottom of the seventh.
Purdue scored five runs on 10 hits and committed two errors. Three Boilermakers, juniors Katie Mitchell and Candace Curtis and sophomore Ashley Barr posted two-hit performances. Jacksonville State managed four runs on four hits, while committing one error.
Freshman Suzie Rzegocki struck out five batters in six innings of work, while junior Dana Alcocer earned the victory, holding JSU scoreless in the seventh. Starting pitcher Melissa Dowling was saddled with the loss for the Gamecocks, after allowing five earned runs in six plus innings of work.
The Gamecocks threatened in the openings stanza, loading the bases, but the Purdue defense kept them off the scoreboard.
In the bottom of the inning, the Boilermakers put two runners in scoring position, but could not muster a run.
Purdue had another scoring opportunity in the third as sophomore Ashley Barr dropped a two-out triple into short left field. A ground ball to third base, however, kept the Barr from making it home.
The Boilermakers finally broke the scoreless tie in the bottom of the fourth, putting up two runs on three hits. Junior Katie Mitchell led off with a double to left field. Curtis followed with a single to center, advancing Mitchell to third. The duo then pulled off a double steal to plate the game's first run. Junior Alicia Spack tapped an RBI single into right field the following play to bring Curtis in to score. Spack advanced to second on the play and eventually reached third on a sacrifice, but was left stranded.
Jacksonville State responded the following stanza with a two-out, full count grand slam by Allie Barker. A single, a double and a walk set up the long ball.
Purdue evened the score with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the inning. Senior Ashley Hall started things off with a bunt single. She then advanced to second on a single to center by freshman Beth Cinadr. A double steal moved both into scoring position, before a wild pitch scored Hall. With Cinadr at third, Mitchell tied the game at 4-4 with a sacrifice fly to center. The Boilermakers got another base runner in Curtis, who singled, but left her stranded.
Both teams managed to put runners on base in the sixth, but neither could not break the tie.
JSU had runners at first and third with two outs in the top of the seventh, but a ground ball to short brought the Boilermakers to the plate.
Barr singled to center to start the inning, before advancing to second on a wild pitch. Cinadr joined her on base with a walk, prompting a Gamecock pitching change. With Ashley Eliasson in the circle, Mitchell singled through the left side to load the bases and set the table for Curtis' gamewinning sacrifice fly.
The Boilermakers are slated to face the host No. 4 Alabama Crimson Tide at 6 p.m. (EST), although that time will likely be pushed back due to delays in earlier games. Live stats of the game are available on purduesports.com by clicking on the GameTracker link next to the contest on the schedule.