March 6, 2009
WOODSTOCK, Ga. - The Boilermaker softball team salvaged the day with a 4-2 win over Georgia Tech Friday night. Sophomore Suzie Rzegocki struck out eight in the victory which also featured a home run by senior Katie Mitchell.
Rzegocki (6-2) earned the complete game victory, while Kristen Adkins (4-3) was saddled with the loss for the Yellow Jackets.
The Boilermakers scored their four runs on six hits and an error, while Georgia Tech managed two runs on four hits and an error. Mitchell led the way for Purdue with a 2-for-3 effort with two RBI and two runs. Four others players tallied hits for the team.
The Boilermakers wasted no time, jumping on the scoreboard early with two runs on a hit in the first. A trio of walks loaded the bases for Purdue with one out as junior Liane Horiuchi, sophomore Beth Cinadr and Mitchell all received free passes. A fielder's choice prevented a run, but kept the bases full. Freshman Molly Garst made good on the RBI opportunity with a single to left center, bringing in two runs. A ground ball barred further damage.
Georgia Tech answered with two runs of its own on four hits in the bottom of the first. With runners at first and second with one out, Tiffany Johnson doubled to deep right field, driving in one run. Kelsi Weseman followed with a single to left to even the score. A strikeout and pop up wrapped up the stanza.
Cinadr and Mitchell posted back-to-back one-out singles in the third, but could not make it around to score.
The Boilermakers snapped the tie in the fifth as Mitchell sent a towering bomb sailing over the center field wall. The round tripper also plated Cinadr, who reached on a fielding error by the first baseman to start the inning. Purdue put two more runners on in the stanza, but Yellow Jacket relief pitcher Jessica Coan forced a ground ball and strikeout to keep the advantage at 4-2.
Senior Kelly Miller drew a walk and Horiuchi was hit by a pitch to put two Boilermakers on to start the sixth. A sacrifice move both into scoring position, but a pair of strikeouts stranded both.
Georgia Tech had runners at first and third after a walk and a hit by pitch in the sixth, but the Purdue defense held strong, keeping the lead in tact.
Both teams went down in order in the seventh to clinch the 4-2 Boilermaker win.
Purdue (8-5) returns to action at 1 p.m. Saturday when the Boilermakers take on Indiana State.