FORT MYERS, Fla. - Junior Lilly Fecho struck out a Purdue record 19 batters as the Boilers topped Florida Gulf Coast 10-2 in nine innings Friday night. The 19 Ks best Diana LaRiva's record of 17 in a 2-0 seven-inning win over IPFW on March 27, 2004.
Fecho (6-2) held the Eagles at bay in a 1-1 tie until her offense could put up nine runs on seven hits in the ninth inning to seal the victory. FGCU starter Shelby Morgan struck out two batters and allowed just one run in seven innings, while Gabbee Draney (1-3) was saddled with the loss, giving up nine runs on seven hits in the final two stanzas.
Purdue scored 10 runs on 13 hits and two errors, while allowing FGCU two runs on eight hits and an error. Freshman Maya Hughes and seniors Ashley Burkhardt and Alyssa Koorsen had two hits apiece as 10 different Boilermakers had hits in the contest.
The Boilers wasted no time jumping on the scoreboard, combining two hits in the first three batters of the game for a score. Hughes reached on a bunt single, stole second and was sacrificed over to third, from which she scored on an RBI single to right by Burkhardt.
Purdue had three hits in the second as sophomore Kristen Hoppman, junior Paris Andrew and Hughes singled, but could not score.
FGCU snapped Fecho's no-hit bid with a two-out double up the left field line in the third, but a pop up erased the threat.
The Eagles tied it up at 1-1 with a run on three hits in the fifth. Kelsey Huff singled and stole second before scoring on a Kara Castle single to right field. A single and a walk loaded the bases, but Fecho issued another K to escape further damage.
Redshirt junior Katie Harrison singled in the sixth. Pinch runner Lexi Valone swiped second and went to third on an error, but the Boilers stranded runners at the corners.
Fecho came through with two more clutch Ks after FGCU loaded the bases on two hits and a one-out walk in the sixth.
The international tie breaker rule was invoked in the eighth inning, placing a runner on second to start each stanza. Neither team was able to advance the free runner in the eighth.
The Boilermakers broke the game open with nine runs on seven hits and an error in the top of the ninth. Senior Lexy Moore pinch ran at second base to start the inning, went to third on a wild pitch and scored as freshman Kaylah Hampton singled through the left side. A bunt single by Koorsen, a sacrifice and an intentional walk to Andrew filled the basepaths for junior Sydney Pencek, who delivered two RBI with a double down the right field line. A fielding error by the shortstop allowed two more runs to score. After a Mary Gooding single, Burkhardt doubled to make it 8-1. Freshman Stephanie Ramsey had a pinch hit single and Hampton walked to fill the bases for Koorsen, who issued the final blow with a two-run single through the right side. A fly out and strike out brought the Eagles to the plate one final time.
FGCU plated its free runner in the bottom of the inning with a double to right center by Jeanie Verderese. A strikeout and a liner to the shortstop brought the Eagles to their final out. A bunt single should have loaded the bases, but the FGCU runner at second base was caught in a rundown to end the game.
Purdue (8-4) returns to action at 12:15 p.m. Saturday in a rematch with the FGCU Eagles.