April 27, 2008
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermaker softball team posted eight runs on 16 hits in Sunday's doubleheader against Illinois, but those totals were only good enough to secure a series split. Purdue took the first game 6-5, then the Illini countered with a 9-2 win in the night cap.
Junior Candace Curtis went 4-for-8 on the day to lead the Boilermaker bats.
Purdue 6, Illinois 5
It took a late offensive charge, but the Boilermaker softball team was able to secure a 6-5 come-from-behind win over Illinois in Game 1 on Sunday.
Purdue scored its six runs on nine hits and two Illini errors, while Illinois posted five runs on six hits. Junior Candace Curtis led the Boilermaker bats with a double and a home run, while senior Ashley Hall and junior Katie Mitchell also went 2-for-4 in the contest.
Junior Dana Alcocer (17-11) struck out two in two and a third innings of relief en route to the victory, while Christine Christopoulos was saddles with the loss for Illinois after allowing six runs in five innings of work. Freshman Suzie Rzegocki struck out two for Purdue before exiting the game in the fifth inning.
The Illini scored first, plating two runs on a Shanna Diller home run in the opening stanza.
Junior Candace Curtis evened the score with a two-run double to right center in the third. The two-out, two-bagger off the wall drove in freshman Beth Cinadr and senior Ashley Hall from second and third. Cinadr was hit by a pitch and Hall singled to start the inning then advanced into scoring position on a ground ball to first base.
Illinois loaded the bases in the fourth, but the Boilermakers escaped unscathed. The Illini returned the favor in the bottom of the inning, forcing Purdue to strand three runners after an error, a single and a hit by pitch.
Katrina Ross gave the Illini the lead with a solo shot down the right field line to start the fifth. A walk and a double put two on for Sarah Bryers, who delivered on the RBI opportunity with a two-run triple to right. The hit brought Alcocer to the circle, from which she coerced a ground ball to the shortstop to end the frame.
The Boilermakers got two runs back in the bottom of the inning. Curtis started things off with a solo shot to right center. Singles put Jenna Alexander and Katie Mitchell aboard. A wild pitch moved the pair into scoring position. Sophomore Ashley Barr then walked to load the bases. Pinch hitter Alicia Spack reached on an error by the third baseman, allowing Alexander to score from third and make it a 5-4 game.
Purdue combined three hits for a pair of runs in the sixth to regain the advantage. Hall and junior Kelly Miller posted bunt singles to start the inning, prompting an Illini pitching change. Claire DeVreese took over in the circle and recorded a strikeout and fly out, but hit Alexander to load the bases. Mitchell then sent a two-run single into right field to put the Boilermakers on top 6-5. A ground ball to the pitcher prevented any more damage.
Illinois got a bunt single to start the seventh, but the Purdue defense came through with a ground out, a pop up and a strikeout to seal the win.
Illinois 9, Purdue 2
The Fighting Illini prevented a Boilermaker sweep with a 9-2 win in Game 2 of the twin bill.
Illinois managed nine runs on nine hits and two Purdue miscues, while the Boilermakers scored two runs on seven hits and two Illini errors. Curtis led the Purdue bats with a 2-for-4 effort.
Ashley Wright (7-7) earned the victory for Illinois, while Christopoulos picked up the save, allowing just one hit in the final two and two thirds innings. Alcocer (17-12) struck out six in the loss, facing all but two batters in the game.
Illinois broke onto the scoreboard with a second inning sacrifice fly.
Purdue threatened in the bottom of the inning, but could not capitalize on the opportunities. With runners at first and second, sophomore Ashley Barr singled up the middle. The lead runner, however, was out at the plate trying to tie the score on the play. The rally continued though as junior Christina Trauger was hit by a pitch to fill the bases again, but this time a ground ball to the second baseman prevented a run and ended the stanza.
The Illini went up 2-0 as Shanna Diller lifted a solo shot to center field to start the fourth. Angelena Mexicano then added a two-run shot in the fifth to stretch the Illinois lead to four.
The Boilermakers finally put a tally on the scoreboard with a pair of scores on four hits in the fifth. Trauger led off with a single to right and went to second on a wild pitch, setting the table for freshman Beth Cinadr who delivered with a double up the middle. A Miller single gave Purdue runners at the corners for Curtis, who singled to right center to cut the Illinois lead in half at 4-2. A fielder's choice and a ground out stranded two at inning's end.
Illinois put the game out of reach with five runs on four hits and an error in the sixth. Alcocer allowed a run and exited the game with bases loaded and one out. Rzegocki relieved her in the circle, but could not squelch the Illini rally, instead walking in a run and allowing a two-run single. Alcocer reentered the game with runners at first and third and forced a ground ball to the shortstop, but the ball was misfielded allowing a run to score. A fielder's choice finally ended the inning with the Illini up 9-2.
Purdue could not capitalize on an Illinois fielding error in the sixth or a single by Curtis in the seventh, giving the Illini the victory.
The Boilermakers (32-20, 7-9 Big Ten) return to action at 1 p.m. Saturday when they take on the Indiana Hoosiers in Bloomington, Ind.