March 15, 2008
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Missed opportunities resulted in the Boilermaker softball team's 2-1 loss at the hands of the USF Bulls Saturday afternoon. Purdue stranded six runners in the contest, including four in scoring position.
The Boilermakers scored a run on six hits, while allowing USF two runs on five hits. Sophomore Ashley Barr led the Purdue bats with a 2-for-3 effort, including a double.
Cristi Ecks (3-2) garnered the victory after throwing five innings, while Courtney Mosch earned the save. Junior Dana Alcocer (11-5) struck out one in the losing effort.
The Bulls put up two runs on three hits and a fielder's choice in the bottom of the first. A bunt single, a sacrifice and a fielder's choice gave USF runners at the corners with one out. A JoJo Medina double put the Bulls on the board. An Alison Savarese single to short left field accounted for the other tally.
Freshman Suzie Rzegocki drew a two-out walk and stole second in the second inning, but was left stranded.
Junior Katie Mitchell posted Purdue's first hit of the game with a single up the middle in the third, but the Boilermakers could not bring her home.
Barr and Rzegocki recorded back-to-back two-out singles in the fourth, but again Purdue could not convert.
Junior Kelli Miller led off the fifth with a single and advanced to second on a ground ball, but was caught in a rundown on a fielder's choice the next play. Freshman Beth Cinadr, who reached on the fielder's choice, came home as junior Candace Curtis doubled to left center. A fly ball kept the Boilermakers from tying the score.
In the sixth, Barr lasered a one-out double up the third base line and advanced to third on a throwing error by the shortstop. The next batter, however, hit a liner to the third baseman, who turned and tagged Barr for the double play.
The Boilermakers went down in order in the seventh to close out the game.
Purdue (17-7) returns to action at 4:30 p.m. when the team faces No. 10 LSU.