March 8, 2014
ATHENS, Ga. - The Boilermakers squared off with No. 18 Georgia to wrap up Day 2 at the UGA Softball Classic. Purdue scored first, but could not hold off the Bulldogs down the stretch in a 6-1 game.
The Boilers scored their one run on seven hits, led by a two-hit effort by senior Maia Monchek. Georgia managed its six runs on 12 hits and an error. Senior Tori Chiodo drew three walks in the contest.
GeriAnn Glasco (10-0) earned the complete-game victory for the Bulldogs, while junior Lexy Moore (1-6) struck out two batters in four innings of work in the loss. Junior Alex Whittemore added another strikeout in the final two innings.
Georgia got the first hit of the game with a one-out single in the first, but the Boilers erased the hit with a double play.
Purdue scored first, however, plating a run on a hit in the second. Chiodo drew a one-out free pass, went to second on a wild pitch and third on a ground out, setting up an RBI double by senior Danielle Fletcher.
Alex Hugo tied it up for Georgia with one swing of the bat, launching a solo home run. The Bulldogs had runners at second and third after a walk, a single and a sacrifice, but heads up defense put out two runners on a fielder's choice play to end the inning.
The Boilers loaded the bases in the fourth, but could not score the go-ahead run. Senior Lindsey Rains laid down a bunt single, Chiodo walked and Monchek added a single to center field, but a pair of fly balls cut the Purdue rally short.
The Bulldogs threatened putting two runners in scoring position with two singles in the bottom of the fourth, but the Boilermaker defense held with a fly ball and ground out.
Sophomore Paris Andrew singled and went to third on a pair of sac bunts in the fifth and appeared to score on a bunt, but junior Ashley Burkhardt was called out in a controversial call at first base to end the inning.
Georgia took a 3-1 lead with a two-run home run by Anna Swafford in the fifth. A double spelled the end of the day for Moore as Whittemore took over in the circle. A single and a walk filled the basepaths with nobody out. A fielder's choice play at the plate and an infield fly put two outs on the board but pinch hitter Maeve McGuire poked a single into left center to bring in two runs. The Boilers registered the final out on the play, however, as the runner at first attempted to take third on the hit.
Chiodo drew her third walk of the game and Monchek added an infield single, but another double play halted the inning.
The Bulldogs combined a hit and an error for a score in the sixth to go up 6-1. A one-out throwing error gave the team a base runner. A single after a fielder's choice play pushed the run across.
The Boilermakers managed two hits in the seventh, but could not extend the game. Freshman Katy McJunkin led off with a pinch hit single, but was caught in a rundown between first and second for the inning's first out. Senior Andie Varsho added a two-out single and sophomore Mary Gooding drew a pinch hit walk, but a pop up capped the game.
Purdue (8-13-1) and Georgia (20-2) will face off again at 11:30 a.m. Sunday.