Feb. 13, 2009
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - The Boilermaker softball team posted a valiant comeback effort, but could not hold off a late surge by Mississippi State, instead falling 4-3 as the victims of a seventh-inning rally.
"We had some huge hits, like Molly (Garst)'s in the seventh and even (Ashley) Barr's in the fifth, but unfortunately we were unable to take advantage of some of our opportunities and simply ran out of time," head coach Kim Maher said.
Purdue scored three runs on five hits and an error, while allowing the Bulldogs four runs on four hits and an error. Senior Candace Curtis went -fr-3 to lead the Boilermaker bats.
Senior Dana Alcocer (1-1) struck out five MSU batters, but was saddled with the loss in the complete-game effort. Lindsey Dunlap (2-0) picked up the win for the Bulldogs after tossing two innings of relief.
Curtis sent a two-out single up the middle in the first, but a fielder's choice cancelled out the hit.
The Bulldogs tallied two runs on a hit in their half of the first as Ali Bainbridge lifted a two-run shot to left.
Mississippi State threatened again in the second, loading the bases on two hit by pitches and a bunt single. A heads-up double play by third baseman Liane Horiuchi and a ground out quashed the rally.
The Boilermakers cut the deficit in half with a run on two hits and an error in the fifth. Horiuchi started things off with a double to left center. She moved to third two plays later as sophomore Beth Cinadr reached on a fielding gaffe by the shortstop. Junior Ashley Barr put Purdue on the board with a single through the right side, driving in Horiuchi. A pop up wrapped up the inning, stranding two.
Curtis aided the Purdue offense again in the sixth, tapping a double off the left center wall. A ground ball pushed Curtis to third, but another grounder to third base kept the Boilermakers from capitalizing on the RBI opportunity.
MSU put two on with a hit and a walk in the sixth, but could not manage a run.
Freshman Molly Garst came through in the clutch for Purdue in the seventh inning, sending a two-out, full count pitch into right center for a double, plating two runs and putting the Boilermakers up 3-2. The base hit drove in Cinadr and sophomore Suzie Rzegocki, who reached on a hit by pitch and walk respectively. A ground out prevented Rzegocki from making it in to score.
The Bulldogs snagged the win with a pair of runs on a hit in the bottom of the seventh. Kaili Smith drew a leadoff walk and was sacrificed over to second. Chelsea Bramlettt evened the score at 3-3 with a triple to deep right center. Bramlett then beat the throw home on a fielder's choice play by the shortstop to seal the 4-3 victory for Mississippi State.
Purdue (3-1) returns to action at 10 a.m. Saturday when they take on Appalachian State. Live statistics from the game will be available on purduesports.com via the GameTracker feature.