March 8, 2014
ATHENS, Ga. - The Boilermaker softball team piled up eight hits against Tennessee Tech, but it was a seventh-inning RBI double by senior Tori Chiodo that lifted Purdue to a 1-0 win.
Sophomore Lilly Fecho (6-6) racked up a season-best 10 strikeouts for the second day in a row against the Golden Eagles in the complete game victory. Danielle Liberatore threw the full game for TTU in the loss.
Seniors Andie Varsho and Lindsey Rains had two hits apiece to lead the Boiler bats.
The Boilers put runners at the corners in the second, but could not score. Rains placed a double in the left center gap and swiped third as senior Danielle Fletcher drew a two-out walk. A strikeout left both stranded.
Varsho laced a one-out single up the middle in the third, but could not advance past second base in the inning.
A sun ball in the third gave TTU its first hit, a leadoff double, but Fecho struck out the next three batters to erase the threat.
Fletcher lifted a leadoff single into center field and went to second on a throwing error, but the Boilermakers could not push the run across.
The Golden Eagles put two aboard with a two-out single and a walk in the fifth, but Fecho sat down the next batter with a looking strikeout.
Purdue threatened in the sixth, but a close play at the plate kept the Boilermakers off the scoreboard. Varsho led off with a bunt single and was sacrifice to second. Burkhardt followed with an infield single. With runners at first and second, Rains sent a single up the middle. Varsho was called at the home trying to score on the play. Both Burkhardt and Rains advanced into scoring position, but a fly ball kept the game scoreless.
The Boilermakers snapped the scoreless tie in the seventh. Sophomore Mary Gooding drew a leadoff walk and was sacrificed to second. Senior Tori Chiodo made good on a two-out RBI opportunity, bouncing a double off the right center field wall. Varsho joined her on base with a walk, but a ground out put the game in the hands of the defense.
Tennessee Tech got a one-out single in the bottom of the seventh, but Varsho threw out the runner who was trying to stretch the hit into a double. A fly ball sealed the victory.
The Boilermakers (8-12-1) finish up Day 2 at the UGA Softball Classic with a 3 p.m. contest against No. 18 Georgia. Live audio will be available free at georgiadogs.com.