Feb. 14, 2009
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - A seventh-inning rally bit the Purdue softball team for the second straight night as the Boilermakers fell 3-2 to Appalachian State in Day 2 action at the Florida State Sunshine Classic.
The Mountaineers posted three runs on seven hits and an error, while the Boilermakers managed their two runs on five hits and two errors. Five different players accounted for the Purdue hits with senior Candace Curtis and junior Jenna Alexander earning the RBI. The Boilermakers left eight runners on base, while ASU stranded nine.
Kayla Richardson (1-1) earned the victory for ASU after tossing four innings of relief, while sophomore Suzie Rzegocki (2-1) was saddled with the loss for Purdue despite spriting out five.
The Boilermakers had the game's first scoring opportunity, putting two runners in scoring position in the first, but could not manufacture any runs. Curtis sent a one-out single into center field to start the rally, then went to second as sophomore Beth Cinadr reached on a fielding error by the second baseman. A fly ball gave bumped both runners into scoring position, but another fly out kept the team off the scoreboard.
Appalachian State took advantage of a Boilermaker miscue for a run in the second. Ashley Stubbs reached on a fielding error by the shortstop and advanced to second on a sacrifice before scoring on a deep single to center by Ashley Gaston.
Purdue answered with two runs on two hits in the third. Senior Kelly Miller and junior Liane Horiuchi started the inning with back-to-back singles. A sacrifice fly by Curtis scored Miller from second to put Purdue on the board. Horiuchi then stole third before being joined on base by Cinadr, who was hit by a pitch. Cinadr swiped second to move into scoring position for junior Jenna Alexander, who picked up an RBI with a ground out to second. Another ground ball, however, prevented the Boilermakers from adding to their lead.
ASU stranded a runner in scoring position in each of the next three innings, while the Boilermakers left four on, including runners at second and third in the sixth.
Rzegocki drew a lead off walk in the sixth. A botched fielder's choice attempt allowed senior Christina Trauger to join her on base. A sacrifice pushed both runners up a base, but a pair of strikeouts thwarted the scoring effort.
The Mountaineers combined two hits and two free bases in the top of the seventh to regain the lead. Megan Rembielak was hit by a pitch to start the stanza. Sarah Rappe followed with a single. A one-out walk loaded the bases. Ashley Stubbs turned the game with a two-out double down the right field line, driving in two runs and putting ASU up 3-2. A fly ball to center field prevented further damage.
Cinadr kept hope alive for Purdue with a two-out single up the middle in the final inning, but was left stranded by a ground ball to the pitcher.
The Boilermakers (3-2) will give a shot at revenge as they take on Appalachian State again at 9 a.m. Sunday. The team will then wrap up its stay in Florida with an 11:15 a.m. contest against the host Florida State Seminoles.