May 3, 2008
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Boilermaker softball team punched its ticket to the Big Ten Tournament with a 2-1 win over Indiana Saturday afternoon.
Purdue scored two runs on eight hits and an error, while allowing the Hoosiers a run on four hits. Junior Kelly Miller led the Boilermakers bats with a 3-for-3 effort, while sophomore Kelsey Haupert posted two hits and drove in both Purdue runs.
Junior Dana Alcocer (18-12) struck out five Hoosier batters in the complete-game victory, while Monica Wright (12-14) was charged with the loss.
The Boilermakers hung two runs on the scoreboard in the opening stanza. Sophomore Kelsey Haupert plated the runs, sending a one-out single into right center. Senior Ashley Hall and junior Kelly Miller scored on the play after reaching on a walk and a fielding error by the pitcher. A pass ball moved Hall to third and Miller to stole second to set the table for Haupert's base knock. A hit by pitch and a walk filled the bases for Purdue, but the Boilermakers could not manage any more runs in the stanza.
Purdue managed a hit in the second and third innings, but could not capitalize.
Junior Christina Trauger led off the fourth with a single to left and moved to third on a sacrifice and a ground ball, but was left stranded as a fellow base runner was caught stealing.
Sophomore Jenna Alexander was hit by a pitch with two outs in the fifth and advanced to third as junior Katie Mitchell followed with a single to left. A fielder's choice kept the Boilermakers from adding to their lead.
A fielder's choice, a single and a walk loaded the bases for the Boilermakers in the sixth, but a pop up ended the inning.
After stranding five runners in the first five innings, the Hoosiers broke through as Tory Yamaguchi snapped the shutout with a two-out solo home run in the sixth.
Purdue had another scoring opportunity in the seventh. Alexander started things off with a single to center. Pinch runner Amy Butcher went to third on a sacrifice and a ground out, but a caught foul ball brought the Hoosiers to the plate one final time.
A strikeout and two ground out sealed the Boilermaker victory.
Purdue (33-20, 8-9 Big Ten) look to finish the series sweep and climb the Big Ten standings in a 1 p.m. Sunday Senior Day contest.