April 15, 2008
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Junior Dana Alcocer struck out a season-high nine Crusader batters in a 3-0 shutout win over Valparaiso in Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader.
Purdue scored its three runs on three hits and five Valpo errors, while holding the Crusaders to just four hits.
Alcocer (16-7) earned the complete-game victory for Purdue, while Stephanie Kelly was saddled with the loss for Valparaiso.
Freshman Beth Cinadr tallied Purdue's first hit of the game in the second inning and it was a good one, a two-run shot to right center. The round tripper, Cinadr's third of the season, brought home sophomore Jenna Alexander, who was hit by a pitch to start the stanza.
Senior Ashley Hall's leadoff single in the third, prompted a Crusader pitching change as Jill Jacobson took over in the circle. A fielder's choice and an error followed putting junior Candace Curtis in scoring position, but the Boilermakers were unable to capitalize on the RBI opportunity.
A trio of Crusader errors gave Purdue its third run of the game. Sophomore Ashley Barr reached on a fielding error by the third baseman in the fourth. She advanced to second as the second baseman dropped the ball on a fielder's choice. A throw by the third baseman on a force try at third sailed into left field allowing Barr to score on the play.
Valparaiso threatened in the fifth, putting its first two batters aboard, but a double play and ground out kept the shutout in tact. The Crusaders then stranded two in the sixth.
The Boilermakers had a scoring opportunity of their own in the sixth, but could not capitalize after advancing Cinadr to second.
Purdue sat the Crusaders down in order in the seventh to seal the 3-0 win.
The Boilermakers will look to reach the 30 win milestone with a victory in the night cap of the doubleheader.