April 18, 2008
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Boilermaker softball team's rally against the Michigan State Spartans fell short in a 2-1 loss Friday afternoon.
Purdue scored its one run on four hits, including a 2-for-3 showing by sophomore Jenna Alexander. Michigan State managed its two runs on five hits.
Lesley Noel (12-12) went the distance for the Spartans in the winning effort, while junior Dana Alcocer (16-9) struck out three in the loss.
The Spartans struck first scoring two runs on a Gina Mondo double to left in the bottom of the first.
Alexander gave Purdue its first hit with a two-out single in the second, but was left stranded. Junior Christina Trauger walked in the third and was hit by a pitch in the fifth, but was out on a fielder's choice following each.
Senior Ashley Hall led off the sixth with a single up the middle and was sacrifice over to second, where she waited as junior Candace Curtis stepped to the plate. Curtis delivered on the RBI opportunity with a single to left before advancing to second on the throw home. She was tagged out at third on a fielder's choice play, then a strikeout ended the rally.
Alexander led off the seventh with a double down the left line. Pinch runner Amy Butcher went to third two plays later on a sacrifice, but that was as far as she would get as a ground ball to third base wrapped up the game.
The Boilermakers will look to even the score with the Spartans in a noon contest on Saturday.