March 26, 2008
INDIANAPOLIS -- The Purdue softball team registered its 20th win of the season Wednesday afternoon, topping Butler 5-3 in Game 1 of a road doubleheader. The Boilermakers scored four runs in the top of the seventh to overcome a 3-1 deficit in the contest.
Purdue scored five runs on eight hits and an error, while allowing Butler three runs on three hits. Senior Ashley Hall and sophomore Kelsey Haupert posted two-hit efforts for the Boilermakers.
Junior Dana Alcocer struck out three in four and a third innings of work, but it was junior Ashley DiDomenico (1-0) who picked up the win, allowing just one hit in relief. Kristen Malinkey (3-6) was saddled with the loss for Butler.
The Bulldogs scored first as Alex Boros sent a two-out pitch over the fence in left center field in the bottom of the first inning.
The Boilermakers answered with a home run of its own the next inning. Sophomore Kelsey Haupert supplied the long ball, with a leadoff shot to center field. Sophomore Ashley Barr followed with a single to left, but a double play and a strikeout kept Purdue from taking the lead.
A hit, a sacrifice and a fielder's choice gave Purdue runners at the corners with one out in the third. The Boilermakers then tried to pull off a double steal, drawing the throw to second, but junior Christina Trauger was tagged out at the plate on the recovery throw home. Junior Katie Mitchell, who had taken second, went to third as senior Ashley Hall singled to left center. Hall continued to dance towards second trying to allow Mitchell to score, but a heads up play by the Bulldog defense gunned Hall down to end the inning.
Butler loaded the bases on a single, a hit by pitch and a walk in the fifth. A wild pitch plated one run, prompting a Purdue pitching change. Junior Ashley DiDomenico took over in the circle with one out in the inning. A single up the middle made it 3-1 Bulldogs, before a ground ball and a pop up wrapped up the stanza.
Mitchell walked to start the sixth and was sacrificed over to second, but the Boilermakers could not capitalize on the RBI opportunity.
With their backs against a wall in the top of the seventh, the Boilermakers managed to load the bases with two outs on a fielder's choice, a walk and a single. Mitchell represented Purdue's final hope and she delivered, clearing the bases with a double that landed just inside the left field line. Hall tacked on an insurance run for the Boilermakers with an RBI single to left. A fly ball ended the rally with Purdue on top 5-3.
Purdue sat the Bulldogs down in order in the seventh to seal the comeback victory.
The Boilermakers (20-8) look to wrap up the sweep with a win in Game 2 of the twin bill, which is slated for a 5 p.m. start. The team already has recorded the best start in program history and has reached 20 wins in the shortest amount of time (28 games). The previous best was a 20-8-1 mark in 2001.