March 7, 2009
WOODSTOCK, Ga. - A third-inning home run provided the lone score of the game in Purdue's 1-0 win over Indiana State Saturday. Senior Candace Curtis' round tripper, one of six Boilermaker hits, accounted for the game winner.
Purdue scored its one run on six hits and an error, while allowing the Sycamores just four hits in the game. Six different Boilermakers accounted for the team's hits.
Sophomore Suzie Rzegocki (7-2) was solid in the circle in the complete game victory, striking out five and retiring 11 in a row at one point. Darcy Wood was saddled with the loss for ISU.
Each team got a runner on in the first and the second innings, but neither could manage a score. Junior Liane Horiuchi singled to start the game and stole second, but was left stranded. Sophomore Suzie Rzegocki tallied a one-out base hit in the second inning, but also was left on base.
A single swing of the bat in the third snapped the scoreless tie as Curtis powered a two-out pitch over the left field wall to put Purdue on the board.
The Boilermakers threatened in the fifth, but could not add to their lead. Freshman Molly Garst led off with a single up the middle. Senior Kelly Miller followed with the perfect bunt. The pair then tried to pull off a double steal, but Garst was caught at third. A fielding error by the second baseman put junior Ashley Barr aboard, from which she promptly swiped second. A strikeout and pop up, however, stranded both runners in scoring position.
After allowing ISU its second hit of the game in the second inning, Rzegocki retired 11 straight batters. A two walk in the bottom of the fifth broke the string, but the next batter hit a liner to third base to end the inning.
It all came down to the bottom of the seventh as Purdue still owned the 1-0 lead. A double, a walk and a single loaded the bases for the Sycamores with nobody out. Rzegocki and the Purdue defense dug deep, however, forcing a fly out, a strike out and a liner to first base to escape unscathed and seal the victory.
The Boilermakers (9-5) return to action at 6 p.m. when they face off against the Jacksonville State Gamecocks.