March 7, 2009
WOODSTOCK, Ga. - The ball bounced Purdue's way in an extra inning affair with Jacksonville State Saturday night. The Boilermakers capitalized on an eighth-inning miscue to take a 4-3 victory.
Sophomore Suzie Rzegocki was placed on second to start the Purdue half of the eighth due to international tie breaker rules. Junior Ashley Barr posted an infield single to put two on with no outs. A strike out followed. A line drive to the shortstop accounted for the inning's second out, however the shortstop threw to first to try to pick up the double play and overthrew the base allowing the Purdue runners to move up a spot. Junior Liane Horiuchi came to the plate and hit a full count pitch at the shortstop, who misplayed the ball, allowing Rzegocki to score from third to sew up the win.
Purdue scored its four runs on seven hits and four errors, while allowing JSU three runs on eight hits and an error. Senior Candace Curtis led the Boilermaker bats with a 2-for-3 effort.
Rzegocki (8-2) picked up the win for Purdue, tossing two hitless innings of relief, while reliever Melissa Dowling (4-2) was saddled with the loss for Jacksonville State, despite allowing just one hit in the eighth. Senior Dana Alcocer struck out three in six innings of work for the Boilermakers, while Ashley Eliasson tossed seven innings after getting the start for JSU.
Purdue had runners at the corners in the first after a double by senior Candace Curtis, a ground ball and a two-out walk issued to senior Katie Mitchell. A caught foul ball kept the team from capitalizing.
JSU got a second inning double, but also could not convert.
The Boilermakers broke onto the scoreboard with a run on three hits in the third. Senior Kelly Miller singled through the left side to start the stanza. A sacrifice pushed her to second. Senior Candace Curtis then bounced a single off the wall in left center to pick up the RBI and went to second on the play. Sophomore Beth Cinadr and junior Jenna Alexander reached via single and walk respectively to fill the bases, but a pop up kept the Boilermakers from adding to their advantage.
Jacksonville State tried to answer in the fourth, but stranded two runners in scoring position. A fielder's choice and a double put the runners on, but Alcocer got out of the jam with a pair of strikeouts.
Purdue capitalized on a pair of Gamecock errors for a run in the fourth. Junior Ashley Barr walked to start the inning and was sacrificed to second. Senior Kelly Miller then hit a ground ball to the third baseman, who misplayed the ball. In an effort to save the play, the third baseman turned to try to get Barr out at third and sent the ball into left field, allowing Barr to continue home safely.
JSU took the lead in the fifth as Allie Barker hit a three-run home run to left. The long ball plated a pair of runners who had singled to kick off the stanza.
Senior Christina Trauger evened the score with a round tripper of her own, jacking a two-out solo shot in the sixth.
Rzegocki took over in the circle to start the seventh inning and sat down three of the four batters she faced.
The Boilermakers loaded the bases in the final stanza... Junior Liane Horiuchi led off with a sharp single up the middle. A sacrifice bumped her over to second. A walk and a hit by pitch filled the basepaths, but a ground out sent the game to extra innings.
Purdue (10-5) returns to action at 10 a.m. when the team takes on Boston College to wrap up its stay at the Buzz Classic.