March 28, 2009
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermakers fought through a rain-drenched game with Minnesota on Saturday, but wound up on the short end of 6-4 score.
Purdue scored its four runs on four hits and two Golden Gopher miscues, while Minnesota managed its six runs on seven hits and one Boilermaker error. Junior Jenna Alexander led the Purdue bats with a 2-for-3 effort.
Sophomore Suzie Rzegocki (14-5) struck out 11 in the loss, while Briana Hassett, the national strikeout leader, K'ed seven Boilermakers in the win.
The Gophers wasted a scoring opportunity after putting runners at second and third on a walk and a single with one out in the first. Rzegocki struck out the next two batters to keep the game scoreless.
Purdue plated three runs on a hit and an error in the second. Alexander got things started with a one-out double to right. Freshman Molly Garst walked, then junior Ashley Barr reached on a fielding error by the third baseman to load the bases. Hassett walked in two runs as seniors Christina Trauger and Kelly Miller drew walks. A wild pitch allowed Barr to score from third the following play to put Purdue up 3-0. A foul out and fly out stranded two.
The Boilermakers capitalized on another Gopher miscue for a run in the third, as senior Katie Mitchell scored from third on a Hassett wild pitch. Mitchell led off the inning with a double to left center and was sacrificed to third, before taking advantage of the wild offering.
Minnesota got two runs back in the fourth and the fifth on three hits and an error. A two-run home run by Natalie Neal accounted for the runs in the fourth. The Gophers put two on via walk after the long ball, but could not add to their tally. In the fifth inning, A single and two hit batsmen loaded the bases with one out. Rzegocki hit a third batter to bring a run home. A throwing error on a fielder's choice play at the plate tied the game at 4-4. Rzegocki recovered, striking out the final two batters of the inning and escaping the bases-loaded jam without further damage.
Junior Liane Horiuchi gave the Boilermakers a leadoff runner on third in the fifth, but Purdue left her stranded. Horiuchi singled up the middle and advanced to third as the center fielder overran the ball in the outfield. A strikeout and two infield grounders prevented Horiuchi from scoring.
The Gophers capped the game's scoring with two runs on two hits in the sixth. A pair of walks and a double steal put two in scoring position for Malisa Barnes, who picked up an RBI with a single through the left side. Neal followed with a single up the middle to make it 6-4.
The Boilermakers missed out on a scoring chance in the sixth, after Alexander led off with a single up the middle. Pinch runner Kaity Stratten went to third on a sacrifice and a wild pitch, but a strikeout left her stranded.
The Gophers threatened again in the seventh, with a single and sacrifice, but a diving tag by the third baseman, Horiuchi wrapped up the stanza.
Purdue went down in order on a strikeout, a fly out and a grounder to the shortstop to secure the Minnesota win.
The teams will face off again at 2 p.m. Sunday. It is Food Finder Food Bank Day at the Varsity Softball Complex. Fans bringing a canned food item to the game will receive discounted tickets.