March 7, 2008
CLEARWATER, Fla. - Timely hits and consistent pitching spelled a 3-0 victory for the Purdue softball team against Tennessee-Chattanooga Friday morning at the Under Armour Invitational.
The Boilermakers put up their three runs on eight hits and an error, while allowing the Mocs just two hits in the contest. The shutout is Purdue's fifth of the season.
Junior Katie Mitchell paced the Purdue bats with a 2-for-3 effort and two doubles.
Junior Dana Alcocer (8-4) picked up the win for the Boilermakers, striking out six in four innings of work. Freshman Suzie Rzegocki earned her first save of the season, after taking over in the circle to start the fifth inning and held UTC hitless for the rest of the game, while striking out three Mocs.
The Boilermakers put up two runs on two hits, a walk and a sacrifice fly in the opening stanza. Barr put down a bunt single and Curtis walked setting the table for Mitchell's RBI double to left center. With runners at second and third, freshman Suzie Rzegocki lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to plate another run. A pop up kept Mitchell from scoring.
Chattanooga loaded the bases on two hits and a walk in the bottom of the inning, but stranded the runners as pitcher Dana Alcocer racked up her third strikeout of the game.
Curtis put the Boilermakers up 3-0 with a two-out home run to left in the third inning. Mitchell followed with a double off the center field field and moved to third on a pass ball, but the team could not bring her home.
Sophomore Jenna Alexander led off the fourth inning with a single to right center, marking her first hit of the season. Pinch runner Amy Butcher went to a second as junior Alicia Spack dropped a bunt down just in front of the plate. A line out and a grounder wrapped up the inning.
The Mocs threatened again in the fourth, putting runners at second and third with one out, but a fielder's choice play at the plate and a fly ball to center kept the shutout in tact.
The Boilermakers put a runner in scoring position in both the sixth and the seventh, but could not add to their lead. Rzegocki tallied a single in the sixth and went to second on an error. Freshman Beth Cinadr did the honors in the seventh with a single to short and advanced to third on a wild pitch and a ground out.
Purdue (12-5) returns to action at 2:30 p.m. when the team faces the Missouri Tigers. Live statistics of the event are available on purduesports.com via the GameTracker feature.