April 18, 2009
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermaker softball team capitalized on scoring opportunities despite tallying just one hit in a 2-0 upset of No. 10 Northwestern in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader. Combined with Purdue's season-opening win over No. 4 UCLA, the victory marked the first time a Boilermaker side had beaten two Top 10 foes in the same season since 1997, when that team downed No.8 Michigan and No. 8 Michigan twice.
A pair of fourth inning walks, a sacrifice and two wild pitches accounted for the Boilermaker scores.
"Dana (Alcocer) stayed ahead in the count and Jenna (Alexander) called a great game from behind the plate," head coach Kim Maher said. "Our defense made some great plays and we were able to get on base and score enough runs to win."
Senior Christina Trauger posted Purdue's lone hit of the game, a leadoff single in the third, while Northwestern managed five hits in the contest.
Senior Dana Alcocer (4-5) struck out five in the complete game victory, while Lauren Delaney (24-8) K'ed 10 and walked six in the loss for the Wildcats.
Both teams stranded a runner in the first inning and Northwestern left another aboard in the third.
Purdue put two on in the bottom of the third as Trauger singled and junior Liane Horiuchi was hit by a pitch. A passed ball moved both into scoring position. A pair of strikeouts should have ended the inning, but a wild pitch on final strike had the Boilermakers running. Trauger was tagged out at the plate trying to sneak home on the miscue.
The Boilermakers accounted for the only scores of the game in the fourth. Junior Jenna Alexander drew a leadoff walk. Pinch runner Kaity Stratten went to second as freshman Molly Garst earned a free pass. Sophomore Beth Cinadr laid down a sacrifice to push the runners to second and third. A wild pitch brought Stratten home. Delaney issued her third walk of the inning to put Trauger aboard and give Purdue runners at the corners. Another wild pitch allowed Garst to score. Trauger advanced on the wild one, but was tagged out at third in an attempt to take an extra bag on the play, ending the inning.
A walk put junior Ashley Barr on to start the fifth. A sacrifice pushed her to second, but the Boilermakers were unable to bring her home.
Northwestern put its first runner in scoring position in the sixth, combining a single and a hit by pitch, but a fly ball to center field kept the Wildcats from capitalizing.
Alexander walked again in the sixth and squeaked under a tag at second as Garst attempted to lay down a bunt. All hands were safe on the fielder's choice play, but the next three batters were retired prevented the Boilermakers from adding to their 2-0 lead.
The Wildcats went down in order in the final stanza to clinch Purdue its second Top 10 victory of the season.
The Boilermakers (23-15, 6-5 Big Ten) look to pull off a season sweep in Game 2 of the twin bill.