March 15, 2008
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Boilermaker softball team held No. 10 LSU at bay for four innings, but could not hold off a late-inning Tiger charge in a 4-0 loss Saturday afternoon.
LSU posted its four runs on six hits, while Purdue managed five hits in the game, but left eight runners stranded, including five in scoring position. Junior Candace Curtis led Purdue at the plate with a 2-for-3 effort including a double.
Cody Trahan (9-1) earned the victory for LSU, while Dani Hofer picked up the save after tossing the final two innings of the game. Freshman Suzie Rzegocki (6-3) struck out three Tigers in the losing effort.
The Boilermakers posted a pair of two-out hits in the opening stanza, but could not convert them into runs. Curtis sent a single into right center, then sophomore Kelsey Haupert followed with a single through the left side, but a strikeout stranded both.
Purdue had another scoring opportunity with runners at second and third with two outs in the second inning, but could not pick up the RBI. Sophomore Jenna Alexander drew a lead-off walk. A pair of sacrifices moved pinch runner Amy Butcher to third. Junior Kelly Miller then walked and stole second, but a strikeout kept Purdue off the scoreboard.
Junior Christina Trauger drew a lead-off walk in the fifth and was sacrificed over to second, but a pair of caught foul balls left her there at inning's end.
The Tigers broke the scoreless tie in the fifth inning on a pinch hit RBI double by Casey Faile. The hit brought in Erika Sluss, who posted a leadoff single and went to second on a ground ball to short.
Curtis doubled to left to start the sixth, but was out the next play trying to take third on a dropped third strike. Sophomore Ashley Barr gave Purdue new life on the bases with a bunt single. Alexander then drew a walk to put runners at first and second with two outs, but a strikeout kept the Boilermakers from tying the game.
With a runner on first and one out in the sixth inning, LSU coach Yvette Girouard was ejected from the game. The Tigers responded, however, with a pair of singles and three runs. A Tayl'r Hollis single brought in the first run. A pair of bases loaded walks accounted for the other two, prompting a Purdue pitching change. Junior Dana Alcocer entered the circle and got the next batter to fly out to end the inning.
Miller gave Purdue a runner in the seventh with a one-out infield single, but a strikeout and a pop up ended the Boilermakers' rally hopes.
The Boilermakers (17-8) return to action at 9:30 a.m. Sunday when they take on the Fordham Rams. Purdue will wrap up its stay in Florida with an 11:30 a.m. contest against the Oklahoma State Cowgirls.