April 6, 2011
INDIANAPOLIS - The Boilermaker softball team tied six school game records as it posted a pair of run rule victories over IUPUI on Wednesday. Purdue swept the doubleheader 11-1 and 18-5. Junior Molly Garst launched a record-tying two home runs, including a grand slam, in the first contest. The shortstop tied the stolen base record with three in Game 2 and also matched the runs score record with four. The team also tapped out a record-tying 18 hits, 16 RBI and seven doubles in the game.
"Offensively, we hit the ball well; we were able to manufacture runs by hitting with runners in scoring position and taking advantage of defensive miscues," head coach Kim Maher said. "Our pitchers did a good job forcing ground balls and allowing our defense to make routine plays. We need to clean it up a bit defensively though. Overall, it was nice walk away with two Ws."
Purdue 11, IUPUI 1
The Boilermakers racked up nine hits, including a school game record-tying two home runs by junior Molly Garst, and senior Suzie Rzegocki struck out seven, as Purdue posted an 11-1 run-rule victory in Game 1.
Garst and freshmen Andie Varsho, Tori Chiodo and Lindsey Rains each rapped out two hits, while Garst accounted for six RBI.
The Jaguars posted two first inning hits, but failed to score.
Purdue tallied its first hits of the game in the third, on a Lindsey Rains single to left and a two-run home run by junior Molly Garst. Varsho followed with a single up the middle, but could not score.
IUPUI got a base runner in the third on an error, but the runner was caught stealing the next play.
The Boilermakers piled on five runs on four hits in the fourth. Sophomore Erika Petruzzi led off with a single through the right side and Rzegocki was hit by a pitch. Chiodo sent a two-out single to left, scoring Petruzzi. A walk put Rains on board, filling the basepaths for Garst, who delivered with the grand slam. Varsho added another single and stole second, but was stranded there by a fly ball.
Purdue tacked on four more runs on a pair of hits and an error in the fifth. Petruzzi walked, senior Shelby Krammer was hit by a pitch and freshman Lauren Grant walked to fill the bases. A Chiodo single to center field brought in pinch runners Aimee Gingerich and MaryBeth Pavlick. Grant also scored on the play as the centerfielder misplayed the ball, allowing Chiodo to wind up at third. Rains singled back to the pitcher, bringing Chiodo home.
IUPUI managed a run on two hits in the final stanza, preventing a shutout. Pinch hitter Lauren Cooper hit a two-out double to right center and scored on a Joy Perry single to right field, before a fly out capped the game.
Purdue 18, IUPUI 5
The Boilermaker offense rapped out 18 runs on a school record tying 18 hits in Game 2, including multi-hit efforts by seven players. Freshmen Lindsey Rains and Danielle Fletcher each went 3-for-4, while junior Molly Garst, sophomore Erika Petruzzi and freshmen Andie Varsho, Lauren Grant and Tori Chiodo posted two-hit efforts.
Junior Katie Hackney (1-0) picked up her first career victory, striking out five in the complete game effort for Purdue. Alicia Brewer was saddled with the loss for the Jaguars after giving up six runs in the opening stanza.
Purdue put up six runs on four hits and two errors in the first. Garst walked and stole second, before scoring on a Varsho double to center field. Varsho ended up at third after a throwing error by the center fielder. A fielding error by the second baseman put Rains on base and brought Varsho home. Petruzzi singled, pushing Rains to third, then stole second to move into scoring position. A wild pitch brought Rains home as Petruzzi advanced to third, from which she scored on Grant's one-out double to center. A wild pitch put Grant at third as Fletcher stepped to the plate with two outs. A towering home run to dead centerfield made it 6-0 Boilermakers.
The Boilermakers converted five hits and two errors into four more runs in the second. Garst led off with a single and stole second and third. Rains brought her home with an RBI single to right. A fielding error by the right fielder pushed Rains to second on the play. A Petruzzi single through the right side plated Rains. A ground out moved Petruzzi to second, setting the table for an RBI double down the left field line by Grant. Chiodo singled to the shortstop and went to second on a throwing error by the shortstop as Grant came home. A ground out finally ended the inning.
The Jaguars threatened in the second, putting runners at the corners, but could not score. A single, a walk and a steal accounted for the base runners, but a strikeout stranded them.
Garst supplied an RBI double and Rains chipped in an RBI single in the third. Garst's two-bagger drove in sophomore Ashley Courtney, who was hit by a pitch to start the inning. A grounder pushed Garst to third, setting up Rains' single to right center.
IUPUI broke onto the scoreboard with four unearned runs in the bottom of the inning. A bunt single and a fielding error put two on. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position. The next batter singled and went to second on a throwing error allowing two runs to score. After a walk, Julie Love singled up the middle and wound up at third after a fielding error by the center fielder, bringing in two more runs. A ground ball to third base prevented further damage.
Purdue countered with five runs on four hits and an error in the fourth. Grant reached on a one-out fielding error by the second baseman. Chiodo followed with a single, then Fletcher drove in both with a double to right center. Garst drew a two-out walk and Varsho plated two with a two-out triple to the left center wall. Rains brought Varsho home with a single through the right side, before a grounder ended the inning.
The Boilermakers scored their record-tying 18th run on three hits in the fifth. Pinch hitter Aimee Gingerich sent a two-out double into left center and came home the following play as Fletcher doubled to left. Courtney added an infield single, pushing Fletcher to third, but a strikeout left both on base.
The Jaguars managed one final run on a hit and two errors in the bottom of the inning, but could not prevent the mercy-rule loss. A fielding error put the leadoff runner on. A fielder's choice play at second nullified that runner. Another fielding error gave IUPUI runners at first and second. A Cherrod Gwaltney double to center accounted for the score. A fielder's choice play at the plate and another at second base capped the game.
The Boilermakers (23-8) take a four-game win streak and the best start in program history into a 4 p.m. (ET) Thursday doubleheader at Valparaiso.