March 29, 2008
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermaker softball team moved to 2-0 in conference play for the first time since 2005, topping Penn State 4-1 on Saturday to sew up the series sweep.
Purdue tallied its four runs on nine hits, while allowing the Nittany Lions one run on four hits. Freshman Beth Cinadr and junior Kelly Miller each registered two hits in the contest for the Boilermakers.
Junior Dana Alcocer (13-5) got it done on the mound for Purdue, striking out six in the complete game victory. Jackie Hill dropped to 11-4 on the season with loss.
Penn State took an early 1-0 lead with a run on two hits in the bottom of the first. Ashley Griffith doubled, then scored on a two-out single to left center by Desi Giordano.
The Boilermakers answered with a pair of runs on three hits in the second. Sophomore Ashley Barr singled, but was caught stealing, prompting a Boilermaker rally with two outs. Cinadr was hit by a pitch, sophomore Jenna Alexander singled up the middle and junior Christina Trauger walked to load the bases for Miller, who sent a single into left field. Cinadr scored on the play and Alexander crossed the plate as Trauger was thrown out at third, prompting discussion from the PSU coaching staff, but the umpires ruled the second run counted, giving Purdue the 2-1 lead.
Both teams put runners on base to no avail in the third, fourth and fifth innings. Penn State loaded the bases with no one out in the fourth, but a strikeout, a fielder's choice and a pop up got Purdue out of the jam.
Cinadr provided the Boilermakers a pair of insurance runs with a towering two-run home run in the sixth. The two-out long ball plated sophomore Kelsey Haupert, who was on second base after a single and a sacrifice.
Junior Katie Mitchell sent a two-out double into center field in the seventh, but Purdue was unable to bring her home.
In the PSU half of the seventh, the Nittany Lions drew a two-out walk and moved the runner into scoring position on a wild pitch, but could not keep the game going as a strikeout sealed the Purdue victory.
The Boilermakers (23-8, 2-0 Big Ten) return to action at noon Sunday when they take on No. 6 Michigan in a doubleheader.