March 16, 2009
BOCA RATON, Fla. - The Boilermakers were bound and determined to leave FAU Softball Stadium with a pair of victories Monday night and did just that. It took eight innings and a little help from Owl miscues, but Purdue managed a 4-3 win in Game 2 of the twin bill after capturing a 3-2 victory in Game 1.
Senior Katie Mitchell went 3-for-3 with a double and a school game-record tying two home runs as Purdue scored four runs on six hits and four FAU errors. The Owls posted three runs on eight hits and two Boilermaker miscues.
Sophomore Suzie Rzegocki (12-4) pitched four shutout innings before exiting the game, but returned to throw the final two innings to pick up the win. All together, Rzegocki struck out four and allowed just two hits in the effort. Seniors Ashley DiDomenico and Dana Alcocer also saw action for the Boilermakers.
Rose Gressley was saddled with the loss for FAU, striking out five in the complete game effort.
A pair of FAU fielding errors wound up costing the Owls the game in the eighth inning. Sophomore Beth Cinadr reached on fielding error by the pitcher to start the stanza. Pinch runner Kaity Stratten moved to third on a pair of sacrifices by junior Ashley Barr and senior Alicia Spack. Senior Kelly Miller hit a grounder to the shortstop, whose throw to first was mishandled by the first baseman. The ball dribbled toward the FAU dugout as Stratten crossed the plate. Miller went to second, but a ground ball to the pitcher kept the game at 4-3 Boilermakers.
FAU went down in order in the eighth to clinch the Purdue victory.
Mitchell posted a first-inning double to put the Boilermakers on the board. The two-bagger drove in freshman Molly Garst who was waiting on second after a walk and stolen base. A ground out left Mitchell stranded.
The Owls posted their first hit of the game with a third inning single but could not move the runner.
Mitchell made it 2-0 with a solo home run to right to kick off the fourth inning.
Florida Atlantic threatened in the fourth after a single, a wild pitch and ground out gave them a runner at third. A grounder to third base however kept the shutout in tact.
Purdue had runners on second and third with two outs in the fifth, but could not bring them in to score. Senior Alicia Spack led off the inning with a single to left and went to second on a wild pitch, before being joined on base by Curtis, who drew a two-out walk. A passed ball moved both up a base, but a grounder to the pitcher nullified the scoring threat.
DiDomenico took over in the circle for Purdue to start the fifth and quickly forced two outs. A single, a walk and a fielding error allowed the Owls to load the bases, but DiDomenico got the next batter to ground out to escape the inning unscathed.
Mitchell kept the Purdue offense rolling in the sixth, tying a school game record with her second home run of the contest and third of the night. This time, the senior deposited a 2-2 pitch over the left field wall. The Boilermakers kept things going as sophomore Beth Cinadr reached on a fielding error by the shortstop and junior Ashley Barr dribbled an infield single to first base, giving the team two aboard with one out. A passed ball moved both into scoring position, but a grounder to the pitcher left the game at 3-0.
The Owls spoiled the shutout bid with a three runs in the bottom of the sixth. A fly ball to left field was dropped, giving FAU a runner at second. A passed ball moved the runner to third, from which she scored on a Rose Gressley single to right field. A pair of singles followed, but the center fielder misplayed the second allowing Gressley to score. With runners at first and third with one out, Alcocer took over pitching duties. She forced a fielder's choice ground ball. The Boilermakers threw home to keep the runner at third. Rundowns ensued as the runners at first and second were trying to advance. A run scored in the midst of the dramatics, but Horiuchi tagged both of the other runners out to end the inning.
Purdue put two on with two outs in the seventh, but were held scoreless. An error put Garst aboard and Mitchell was intentionally walked, but a grounder to the shortstop spelled the end of the rally.
FAU threatened to end the game in the seventh, but a heads up double play brought on extra innings. A pair of singles and a sacrifice put two in scoring position, but a shoestring grab by second baseman Kelly Miller and a quick toss to second left the game tied. Rzegocki had reentered the game to face the last two batters of the stanza.
The Boilermakers (14-8) return to action at 2 p.m. Saturday when they host the Wisconsin Badgers at the Varsity Softball Complex. The game marks Purdue's home and Big Ten opener.