April 5, 2008
MADISON, Wis. - The Boilermaker softball team fought off a late-surging Badger offense to hold on to a 4-3 victory over Wisconsin Saturday afternoon.
Purdue scored its four runs on nine hits and an error, while Wisconsin managed its three runs on six hits. Seven different Boilermaker batters posted hits in the contest led by junior Candace Curtis's 3-for-4 effort.
Junior Dana Alcocer (15-6) earned the victory, striking out four Badgers in three and two thirds innings, while freshman Suzie Rzegocki picked up the save, striking out three in three in a third innings of relief work. Leah Vanevenhoven was saddled with the loss for Wisconsin. Letty Olivarez also pitched in the loss for UW.
Both teams put a runner on in each of the first two innings, but could not break onto the scoreboard.
The Boilermakers snapped the scoreless tie, jumping on the Badgers for four runs on six hits and an error in the third, all of which came with two outs. Junior Kelly Miller got things started when she reached on a fielding error by the shortstop. Curtis followed with a single to left, then sophomore Kelsey Haupert cleared the bases with a three-run shot to left. Junior Katie Mitchell added a single to left, then stole second before scoring on sophomore Jenna Alexander's single up the right field line. Sophomore Ashley Barr and Rzegocki followed with singles to load the bases, but a strikeout kept Purdue from adding to its 4-0 advantage.
The Badgers got three runs back on three hits in the fourth. With runners at second and third an nobody out, Olivarez singled to left, putting Wisconsin on the board. A ground ball to first base brought another home. Then, with runners at first and second, Ricci Robben sent a two-out double into left field to make it 4-3 and prompt a Purdue pitching change. Rzegocki took over in the circle and forced a ground out to get Purdue out of the inning without further damage.
Wisconsin threatened again in the sixth, loading the bases with a single and two walks. Barr then snagged a fly ball in short left field and tossed it to second for an inning-ending double play.
Curtis tallied her third hit of the game with a singled through the left side in the seventh, but she was left stranded by a pop up and strikeout.
The Badgers went down in order in the bottom of the seventh to seal the Purdue win and series sweep.
The Boilermakers (27-10, 4-2 Big Ten) return to action at 1 p.m. ET Sunday, when they take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers in a doubleheader. The games will air tape-delayed on the Big Ten Network with the broadcasts beginning at 6 p.m. ET. Live statistics of both games will be available on purduesports.com via the GameTracker feature.