March 9, 2008
CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Boilermaker softball team extended its win streak to two games with a 3-0 victory over Central Michigan Saturday night. Purdue is now 3-1 at the Under Armour Invitational with one more game to play.
The Boilermakers scored their three runs on eight hits, while allowing the Chippewas just three hits in the contest. Sophomore Kelsey Haupert led the Purdue bats with a 2-for-3 effort including a ground-rule double.
Freshman Suzie Rzegocki (5-2) struck out four in the complete game victory, while Kari Seddon was charged with the loss for Central Michigan, allowing three runs and eight hits in five innings.
Junior Candace Curtis provided the first hit of the game, putting a two-out double into right center in the opening stanza, but was left stranded.
The Chippewas threatened in the second with back-to-back two out singles, but came up empty as Rzegocki struck out the next batter.
In the third, Purdue loaded the bases with two outs on two walks and a single by junior Kelly Miller, but CMU returned the favor by issuing a strikeout to end the stanza.
The Boilermakers broke onto the scoreboard in the fourth inning. Rzegocki was hit by a pitch to start the inning. She was then sacrificed over to second by sophomore Jenna Alexander, who reached safely on the fielder's choice play. Pinch runner Amy Butcher moved to second as Rzegocki was caught attempting to steal third. Haupert then dropped a single into short left field to put runners at first and third. A wild pitch brought Butcher home. A walk and an infield single by Miller loaded the bases. Then, with two outs, sophomore Ashley Barr placed an infield single near third base, but the Chippewas were unable to make a play, allowing Haupert to come home. Barr was caught away from first base the following play to keep Purdue from adding to its 2-0 advantage.
Purdue combined three hits for a run in the fifth. Junior Katie Mitchell started things off with a one-out single to into the left field corner. Rzegocki sacrificed her over to second. Alexander singled toward second base, putting runners at first and third. Haupert followed with a ground rule double into the right field corner which rolled around the outside of the temporary fence, scoring Mitchell but keeping pinch runner Shelby Krammer at third. Junior Christina Trauger drew her single-game record tying third walk of the contest to fill the bases, but a fielder's choice play at third wrapped up the inning.
A two-out single and a walk gave CMU base runners in the sixth, but a grounder to second base kept the shutout in tact.
The Boilermakers (14-6) return to action at 11 a.m. Sunday when they take on Long Island to wrap up the Under Armour Invitational.