Feb. 22, 2014
AUBURN, Ala. - A fourth-inning rally lifted Samford to a 6-3 win over the Boilermaker softball team on Saturday afternoon, beginning the team's stay at the Wilson/DeMarini Classic.
Eight different players tallied hits for Purdue, which scored its three runs on eight hits and an error. Samford plated its six runs on nine hits and an error.
Mollie Hanson (6-3) struck out six batters in the complete-game victory for the Bulldogs, while junior Lexy Moore (1-3) and senior Lauren Grant combined for five strikeouts for Purdue. Moore was saddled with the loss after tossing three and two thirds innings.
The Boilers wasted no time jumping on to the scoreboard, plating three runs on two hits in the opening stanza. Junior Ashley Burkhardt added another RBI to her team-best tally, putting Purdue on the board with a sacrifice fly. The fly ball plated senior Andie Varsho, who singled to start the game, swiped second and advanced to third on a Maia Monchek sac bunt attempt. Monchek capitalized on a Bulldog miscue to give Purdue runners at the corners as Burkhardt stepped in. Monchek swiped second to set up an RBI opportunity for senior Lindsey Rains, who cleared the bases with a shot to right center field.
Purdue put two on to no avail in the fourth as senior Tori Chiodo and freshman Kristen Hoppman started the inning with a single and a double. A fielder's choice play at the plate, a strikeout and a pop up kept the score at 3-0.
Samford scored six runs on three hits and an error in the bottom of the inning to take the lead. The Bulldogs had runners at second and third with one out after a hit by pitch, a fielder's choice and a sacrifice. A fielding error advanced the runners to plate the first run. A two-out double tied the score at 3-3. Grant took over in the circle, but could not stop the Bulldog hitters. A three-run home run by Caroline Wilder put Samford up 6-3.
Monchek singled and Burkhardt followed with a double to kick off the fifth inning, but the Boilermakers could not capitalize. A controversial call in a close play at the plate on a fielder's choice nullified the biggest scoring threat.
Freshman Katy McJunkin poked a one-out single into left field and advanced to second base in the sixth inning, but Purdue could not cash in on the RBI opportunity.
Samford went down in order in the sixth, bringing Purdue down to its final three outs. Senior Danielle Fletcher reached on a two-out single. Pinch runner Sydney Pencek went to second as Rains joined her on base with a walk. The comeback was not to be, however, as a Bulldog left fielder reeled in a long foul ball for the final out.
The Boilermakers (4-5-1) look to bounce back at 7 p.m. ET when they face Jacksonville State to wrap up their first day in Auburn, Ala.