Packing A Punch

March 8, 2009

Final Stats

WOODSTOCK, Ga. - The Boilermaker softball team poured on the runs in its final game of the Buzz Classic, downing Boston College 10-0 Sunday morning. Sophomore Suzie Rzegocki struck out four in her second shutout effort of the weekend, while the Purdue offense piled up eight hits, including two home runs.

"The team found a way to put it together today," head coach Kim Maher said. "We were able to salvage the weekend and walk away with four wins after a disappointing first game."

The Boilermakers scored their 10 runs on eight hits and two errors, while allowing the Eagles just four hits. Senior Candace Curtis paced the team with a 2-for-3 effort, while sophomore Beth Cinadr posted three RBI.

Rzegocki struck out four in the complete-game victory en route to all-tournament team honors. The sophomore went 4-0 on the week with a 0.64 ERA and 18 strikeouts in 22 innings of action.

It took just three pitches for the Boilermakers to break onto the scoreboard as junior Liane Horiuchi jacked a lead-off solo shot over the wall in left center. The team added two more runs in the inning on a two-out single by sophomore Shelby Krammer. Krammer drove in Curtis and senior Katie Mitchell who were waiting on second and third after a walk, a sacrifice and a fielding error by the shortstop.

Purdue stranded a runner in scoring position in the second and the third. Horiuchi was hit by a pitch and stole second with two outs in the second, while freshman Molly Garst reached on a fielder's choice and swiped two bases with two outs in the third.

Rzegocki retired the first 11 batters she faced, striking out three, before allowing a pair of singles with two outs in the fourth.

The Eagles loaded the bases on two hits and a walk in the fifth, but the Boilermakers escaped the jam as Rzegocki recorded her fourth strikeout of the game.

The Boilermakers racked up seven runs on five hits and an error in the sixth. Garst started the rally with a leadoff single down the left field line. Junior Jenna Alexander followed with a one-out single to right center and advanced to second as the Eagles threw home to keep Garst at third. The Eagles switched pitchers, but could not stop the Purdue rally as senior Alicia Spack singled to the shortstop to plate the first run. A fielder's choice loaded the bases for Horiuchi, who drew an RBI walk. Curtis plated two more runs with a single to left. A double steal moved Curtis and Horiuchi into scoring position for Cinadr, who came through with a three-run shot to dead center. The long ball prompted another BC pitching change as Morgan Kidd took over in the circle. She allowed the Boilermakers two base runners via walk and an error, but forced a pop up and ground out to end the inning.

Boston College went down in order on a trio of ground outs to wrap up the Boilermaker win.

Purdue (11-5) returns to action on Friday when they take on Texas A&M at the Florida Atlantic Tournament in Boca Raton, Fla.