Feb. 8, 2009
LOS ANGELES -- The Boilermakers completed a successful stay in California with an 8-1 win over Pacific Sunday morning. Seven different Purdue players posted hits in the contest.
The Boilermakers put up eight runs on nine hits and four UOP miscues, while allowing one run on four hits and an error. Juniors Jenna Alexander and Liane Horiuchi led the team with two hits apiece.
Sophomore Suzie Rzegocki struck out five in four innings of work in the victory, while Chelsea Engle was charged with the loss for Pacific after allong five runs in three and two thirds innings.
A pair of walks, a sacrifice and two stolen bases gave the Boilermakers runners in scoring position in the opening stanza, but the team could not capitalize on the opportunity.
A trio of walks loaded the bases for Pacific in the second, but a strikeout kept the Tigers off the scoreboard.
The Boilermakers found their bats in the fourth inning, breaking the game open with seven runs on six hits and three Tiger errors. Alexander and Horiuchi got things started with back-to-back doubles. A sacrifice moved Horiuchi and senior Alicia Spack, who walked, into scoring position. Junior Ashley Barr drove Horiuchi home and scooted Spack to third with a sharp single to the shortstop. Barr then stole second setting the table for senior Kelly Miller's two-out single up the middle, which plated two more runs. Miller went to third on the play, which included an errant throw home, before scoring on a wild pitch. A walk and a fielding error gave Purdue runners at the corners for Alexander, who picked up two RBI with her second double of the inning. Horiuchi added a single up the middle and stole second, but the Boilermakers would score no more as a fly ball to right closed the stanza.
A fourth-inning single by Lindsey Pierce snapped the no-hitter, but the Purdue defense held strong, denying a score.
Freshman Molly Garst picked up her first collegiate hit with a fifth-inning double, but was left on base at inning's end.
Senior Ashley DiDomenico took over in the circle in the fifth inning, during which Pacific put two on with a fielder's choice and an error. A pair of fly balls, however, kept the shutout in tact.
Alexa Rivera singled up the middle to start the sixth and advanced to third on a pair of ground balls, but was unable to score.
Sophomore Beth Cinadr launched a pinch hit home run with one out in the seventh to make it 8-0.
Pacific spoiled Purdue's shutout bid with a run on two hits in the bottom of the seventh. A lead off double combined with a wild pitch and a walk gave the Tigers runners at the corners. Casey Goldsand then singled through the right side to put Pacific on the scoreboard. A pair of fly balls and a line drive to first base wrapped up the contest.
Purdue (2-0) returns to action on Friday when they take on Miami (Ohio) at the Florida State Sunshine Classic in Tallahassee, Fla.