May 17, 2009
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Boilermaker softball team came up on the short end of a 4-2 score to No. 6 Arizona to wrap up the 2009 season and the team's bid for a NCAA Super Regional berth. Senior Dana Alcocer struck out five and allowed just seven hits to one of the best hitting team's in the nation, but the Purdue offense tallied just two runs on two hits in the losing effort.
"Unfortunately, our season has come to an end," head coach Kim Maher said. "Arizona is a great opponent and we knew that we would be up for a challenge. Dana did a great job in the circle, but we could not produce enough runs. Our seniors should be proud of what they have accomplished. They took our program to the next level. I will miss the seniors, but I am excited about our future."
The Boilermakers scored two runs on two hits and two Wildcat miscues, while Arizona managed four runs on seven hits and a Purdue error. Seniors Katie Mitchell and Christina Trauger accounted for the two Purdue hits.
Sarah Akamine (22-6) struck out six in the complete-game victory, while Alcocer issued five Ks and allowed just one earned run in the complete-game effort to wrap up her Boilermaker career.
Arizona put two on in the opening stanza with a two-out walk and a single, but a fly ball to center field stranded both.
The Wildcats managed to base runners again in the third, but a pair of fielder's choice plays and a fly ball to left kept the shutout intact.
Arizona got on the board in the fourth as a bases-loaded walk accounted for the first run of the game. A two-out bunt single, a hit batsman and a walk filled the basepaths with Wildcats. The Boilermakers thought they had escaped the inning with a ground ball to first base, but the field umpire ruled that the ball bounced off the batter before rolling up the line. The at-bat continued and a full-count pitch just missed, allowing the RBI walk. A high pop up to the pitcher ended the stanza without further damage.
Purdue answered with a run on two errors in the bottom of the inning. Freshman Molly Garst reached on a fielding error by the shortstop. All hands were safe on a fielder's choice play, which put senior Candace Curtis aboard. Mitchell reached on a fielding error by the third base. Garst scored from second as the ball went under the third baseman's glove and into left field. A strikeout kept the Boilermakers from taking the lead.
A three-run shot by Lauren Schutzler gave the Wildcats a 4-1 lead in the fifth. A fielding error and a fielder's choice accounted for the base runners. The trio of unearned runs came as Schutzler bounced the first pitch she saw off the top of the right field fence.
The Boilermakers tallied their first hit of the day as Trauger led off the bottom of the fifth with a single to left center. She was sacrificed to second, but left stranded by a grounder to the shortstop.
Arizona posted two hits in the sixth, but to no avail.
Purdue pulled within two on an RBI double by Mitchell in the sixth. The one-out two-bagger brought home Curtis, who made it around from first, after walking the previous play. A pair of grounders to the shortstop kept Mitchell from scoring.
The Boilermakers went down in order on a strikeout and a pair of grounders to the pitcher to end the upset bid.
The game marked the final contest for seven Boilermaker seniors: Alcocer, Curtis, pitcher Ashley DiDomenico, Mitchell, second baseman Kelly Miller, catcher Alicia Spack and Trauger.
Purdue wraps up the season at 31-20 including five wins over ranked opponents. The team posted its best conference mark (12-8) since 1997, and garnered two postseason victories, a program first.