April 16, 2008
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Ball State Cardinals spoiled the Purdue softball team's bid for its 30th win of the season, issuing the Boilermakers a 7-3 loss on Wednesday.
Purdue scored its three runs on seven hits, including a 3-for-4 effort by junior Kelly Miller. Sophomore Kelsey Haupert and junior Katie Mitchell launched home runs in the losing effort.
Tiffany Garofano (10-10) earned the complete game victory for BSU, while freshman Suzie Rzegocki (12-5) was charged with the loss after allowing four runs in the first inning. Junior Dana Alcocer took over in the circle to start the second inning for Purdue and retired 10 in a row before allowing three runs in the fifth. Junior Ashley DiDomenico tossed the final inning and a third for the Boilermakers.
Miller lifted a one-out single into left field for the game's first hit. She was sacrificed over to second, but left stranded.
The Cardinals plated two runs on a bases loaded single to center by Amanda Pick. A hit by pitch, a single and a walk set up the RBI hit. A walk filled the bases again. Kamilah Holle then sent a two-out, two-run single into left center to give Ball State a 4-0 lead.
Miller provided another piece of offense for the Boilermakers with a two-out single to left in the third inning. Junior Candace Curtis followed with a single of her own, but the two would not make it home.
Mitchell got Purdue on the board in the fourth with a leadoff home run to left. The round tripper was her sixth of the season. Junior Christina Trauger reached on a two-out throwing error and advanced to second on the play, but was unable to score as a strikeout ended the frame.
Miller got things started for Purdue again in the fifth with a one-out single. Two batters later Haupert sliced the BSU lead to one with a two-run shot over the center field wall, marking her seventh long ball of the season.
Ball State put together a three run rally with two outs in the fifth. An RBI single by Abby Gross and a two-run double by Elizabeth Milian accounted for the scores. A pair of walks loaded the bases prompting a Purdue pitching change. Junior Ashley DiDomenico entered the game to pitch for the Boilermakers and promptly struck out the next batter to avoid further damage.
Sophomore Ashley Barr singled and advanced to second on an error by the left fielder in the sixth, but was unable to score.
The Boilermakers got a two-out base runner in the seventh as Curtis drew a walk, but a ground ball to the pitcher wrapped up the game.
Purdue (29-13) return to action at 4 p.m. Friday when the team faces Michigan State in East Lansing, Mich.