April 25, 2009
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Junior Liane Horiuchi snapped the Purdue season stolen base record with numbers 36 and 37 as the Boilermakers squeaked out a 2-0 win over Penn State in a pitchers' dual on Saturday. Purdue capitalized on three walks, four hit batsmen, an error and two hits in the victory, which pushed the Boilermakers to 25-17, 8-7 Big Ten.
Horiuchi surpassed the previous steals record of 36, set by Ashley Hall (2005-2008) in 2007, with one in the first inning and one in the fifth, both of which came after she reached base after being hit by a pitch.
Purdue posted its two runs on two hits and an error, while holding PSU scoreless despite allowing three hits and an error. Freshman Molly Garst and junior Ashley Barr tallied the hits for the Boilermakers.
Sophomore Suzie Rzegocki (20-10) picked up her 20th win of the season, striking out five in the complete-game victory. Jackie Hill (12-8) struck out nine in the losing effort for Penn State.
The Boilermakers plated their first run without the aid of a hit, combining two walks and two hit batsmen for a score in the first. Junior Liane Horiuchi was hit by a pitch to start the stanza and stole second. Seniors Candace Curtis and Katie Mitchell drew walks to fill the bases. Junior Jenna Alexander picked up the RBI as she was hit by a pitch with nobody out. A trio of strikeouts prevented Purdue from adding to its lead.
The Nittany Lions posted back-to-back singles in their first offensive effort. A wild pitch moved the runners into scoring position, but a caught foul ball, a pickoff at third base and a pop up to the pitcher kept PSU off the scoreboard.
PSU put two in scoring position again in the second, and again the Boilermaker defense held. A walk and a sharp single back to the pitcher accounted for the runners. A strikeout and two ground out s, one to the pitcher and one to shortstop, wrapped up the stanza.
Mitchell drew a one-out walk in the third, but was left stranded by a pop up and a fly ball.
A hit batsman and a fielding error gave Penn State two runners in the fourth, but the next two batters popped up and lined into a double play to keep the shutout in tact.
Horiuchi was hit by a pitch to give Purdue a runner in the fifth. She then swiped second, giving her the Purdue single-season record for stolen bases at 37. Mitchell joined her on base when she was hit by a pitch with two outs, but a fly ball to left left both aboard at inning's end.
The Boilermakers added an insurance run in the sixth on two hits and an error. Freshman Molly Garst led off with a single through the left side and stole second. Junior Ashley Barr reached on a two-out bunt single and advanced to second as the pitcher's throw to first sailed wide, allowing Garst go home.
Both teams went down in order in the seventh to seal the Purdue win.
The Boilermakers (25-17, 8-7 Big Ten) will meet the Nittany Lions again at noon Sunday. The game will televised live on the Big Ten Network.