March 8, 2008
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Boilermaker offense exploded with 11 runs on 10 hits in the team's 11-3 win over the Villanova softball team on Saturday afternoon. The Purdue barrage included hits from seven different players, while freshman Beth Cinadr, sophomore Ashley Barr and junior Christina Trauger paced the Boilermakers with two hits apiece.
Junior Dana Alcocer (9-4) struck out five Wildcats en route to the complete game victory. Kat Walsh (1-1), who pitched just two thirds of an inning was saddled with the loss for Villanova.
The Boilermakers started the game with a bang, hanging seven runs on the Wildcats with five hits and four walks. Purdue loaded the bases on a single to right by Cinadr and a pair of walks to juniors Candace Curtis and Katie Mitchell. A third walk, which put freshman Suzie Rzegocki on base drove in the first run. Sophomore Jenna Alexander put a two-out single through the left side, plating Curtis. Villanova switched pitchers, but to no avail as Trauger scored two more for the Boilermakers with a single to left center. With Trauger at second, junior Kelly Miller made good on the RBI opportunity, punching a single into short left field just over the head of the third baseman. The speedy Trauger just beat the throw home as Miller advanced to second on the play. Cinadr brought Miller home with a single up the middle. A walk put Barr aboard before a grounder to the shortstop finally ended the stanza.
Villanova broke onto the scoreboard as Eryn Teague led off the second inning with a home run over the fence in left center.
Purdue put two aboard in the second and the third with a hit and a walk in each inning, but could not add to its lead.
In the third inning, the Wildcats sliced two more runs off the Boilermaker lead. A pair of hits and a wild pitch gave Villanova runners at second and third with two outs. A Jessica O'Boyle single to right brought in both, cutting the margin to 7-3.
The Boilermakers tacked three more runs onto their tally in the fifth. Cinadr drew a one-out walk. Barr followed with a bunt single. The pair then pulled off a double steal before coming around on a three-run shot to left center by Curtis. The home run prompted the Wildcats to bring in a third pitcher to finish the affair.
A hit by pitch and some fancy base running gave Purdue its 11th run of the game. With two outs in the sixth, Trauger was hit in the arm. Shen then advanced to second on a wild pitch. With a full count on Miller, Trauger took off for third on the pitch and slid in safely. Miller, who had reached on the walk, danced between first and second, drawing a throw as well, allowing Trauger to score. A grounder left Miller stranded.
With a mercy rule loss, just three outs away, Villanova did not give up, instead capitalizing on a pair of Boilermaker miscues to put runners on base. A wild pitch moved both into scoring position with nobody out. The Purdue defense shored up, however, using a strikeout, a fly out and a ground out to cap the game.
Purdue (13-6) returns to action at 8:30 p.m. when the team takes on the Central Michigan Chippewas. Live statistics of the game will be available on purduesports.com via the GameTracker feature.