March 14, 2009
BOCA RATON, Fla. - Missed opportunities cost the Boilermakers in a 9-7 loss to Rutgers Friday night. Purdue left 10 runners on base in the contest, which saw the team claw back from a 9-2 deficit before falling short.
Purdue scored its seven runs on 11 hits and an error, while allowing Rutgers nine runs on seven hits and an error. Junior Liane Horiuchi led the Boilermaker bats with a 3-for-4 effort, including a home run, while sophomore Shelby Krammer and freshman Molly Garst also posted multiple hits in the contest.
Holly Johnson struck out six Boilermakers in five innings en route to the win, while senior Dana Alcocer (2-4) allowed eight runs in two and two thirds innings for Purdue.
Garst put Purdue on the board early with a two-run triple in the opening stanza. Senior Candace Curtis got the offense started by dropping a single into short center field. Krammer followed with a single up the right field line. A fielder's choice put senior Katie Mitchell aboard as the Scarlet Knights got the out at third. Garst then picked up the RBI pounding a triple to the base of the wall in right center. A strikeout prevented Garst from making it home.
Rutgers got the two runs back and tacked on a third in the bottom of the inning. Sarah Kalka answered Garst's two-run triple with one of her own, driving in runners from second and third. The Scarlet Knights took the lead, plating Kalka with a suicide squeeze bunt by Mandy Craig. A ground out finally ended the inning.
The Boilermakers loaded the bases in the second, but a double play eliminated the scoring opportunity. Seniors Christina Trauger and Kelly Miller were hit by pitches with one out. Horiuchi tapped a single just past second base to fill the bases, but the next batter grounded into a double play to cut the scoring rally short.
The Scarlet Knights tagged Purdue for six runs on three hits and an error in the third to go up 9-2. With runners at first and second after a hit by pitch and catcher's interference, Kalka doubled in a run. A fielder's choice plated another. A bases loaded single up the middle by Lindsey Curran tacked on two more and prompted a Boilermaker pitching change. Senior Ashley DiDomenico took over in the circle, but could not prevent a Mickenzie Alden double to right center which drove in two more to cap the scoring. A ground out wrapped up the stanza.
Purdue would no go quietly, tallying a run on two hits in the fifth. Horiuchi launched a solo shot to left to jumpstart the Boilermaker offense. Krammer added a two-out double to right center and Mitchell drew a walk to keep things going and force a Rutgers pitching change. Nicole Lindley relieved Holly Johnson in the circle at that point and allowed a walk to load the bases, but forced a ground out to avoid any damage.
The Boilermakers continued to chip away in the sixth, cutting the deficit to five on an RBI single by Horiuchi. The hit plated junior Jenna Alexander who led off the inning with a pinch hit double to left center. A play on a dropped third strike allowed Alexander to move to third, from which she scored on the Horiuchi base knock. A diving save by the shortstop left Horiuchi stranded.
Purdue tacked on three runs on two hits in the seventh and had the bases loaded with two outs, when a looking strikeout denied the upset bid. Mitchell drew a one-out walk to start the rally and Garst followed with a single to left. Sophomore Suzie Rzegocki came through with a two-run double to right center. Alexander walked and pinch hitter Beth Cinadr was hit by a pitch to fill the bases. Senior Kelly Miller reached on a fielder's choice and picked up the RBI as Rzegocki scored on the play. Horiuchi walked to load the bases once again before the game-ending K.
Purdue (12-6) returns to action at 11 a.m. Saturday when they take on Liberty. The Boilermakers will then face Bethune-Cookman in a 1 p.m. contest.