April 22, 2008
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermaker softball team stranded seven runners, five in scoring position, in its 3-1 loss to Notre Dame in Game 2 of Tuesday's doubleheader. Highlights from the contest included a home run by junior Candace Curtis and six strikeouts by junior Dana Alcocer.
Purdue scored its run on four hits, while allowing the Irish three runs on seven hits. Jody Valdivia (8-6) earned the victory for Notre Dame, while Alcocer was saddled with the loss for the Boilermakers. Brittney Bargar earned the save after tossing two and a third innings to close the game.
Notre Dame combined a pair of hits for a run in the opening stanza. Linda Kohan picked up the RBI with a single to center field, scoring Katie Fleury who singled and a stole second.
The Boilermakers stranded a runner at third in the bottom of the inning. Junior Kelly Miller reached on an error before advancing on a sacrifice and a pass ball. A pop up kept her from scoring.
Purdue filled the bases in the second as junior Katie Mitchell walked, Ashley Barr singled and freshman Beth Cinadr was hit by pitch, but again was a pop up denied the Boilermakers any runs.
The Irish made it 2-0 with a run on two hits in the third. Katie Laing plated the run with a single to center field, pushing a runner in from third.
Curtis cut the deficit in half with a solo shot to left in the bottom of the inning.
The Boilermakers had two more scoring opportunities in the fourth and fifth, but could not cash in. Sophomore Jenna Alexander singled to lead off the fourth. Pinch runner Amy Butcher advanced to third on a sacrifice and a pass ball, but was left stranded.
In the fifth inning, Curtis walked and sophomore Kelsey Haupert followed with a single to right center to give Purdue runners at the corners with two outs. Brittney Barger took over in the circle for the Irish at that point, then a diving save by the left fielder snagged a run from the Boilermakers' grasp.
Notre Dame went up 3-1 with a two-out single up the left field line in the top of the seventh. Fleury supplied the hit, which scored pinch hitter Stephanie Mola, who was hit by a pitch, stole second and sacrificed over to third.
The Boilermakers went down in order to end the game.
Purdue (31-17) returns to action at 4 p.m. Friday when the team welcomes the No. 25 Iowa Hawkeyes to the Varsity Softball Complex.