FORT MYERS, Fla. - A sixth-inning run was the difference in a 3-2 game, which saw the Boilermakers fall to Stony Brook on Saturday evening.
Purdue scored its two runs on eight hits and an error, while allowing the Seawolves three runs on four hits and three errors. Freshman Maya Hughes and junior Lexi Valone had two hits apiece to lead the Boiler bats.
Jane Sallen (2-1) went the distance for Stony Brook, striking out two batters. Senior Lexy Moore (2-2) struck out one batter in three and a third innings, while reliever Alex Whittemore issued one K in the final two and two thirds.
Stony Brook scored a pair of unearned runs in the bottom of the first, capitalizing on a walk, an error and two stolen bases with a two-run, two-out single by Bria Green.
A triple to the right center gap by Valone gave Purdue its first run, plating junior CJ Parsons, who had reached on a one-out single in the third.
The Boilers tied it up with a run on two hits and an error in the fourth. Burkhardt sent a sharp single back to the pitcher and went to second on a throwing error. A ground ball moved her to third, from which she scored on a single to shallow center by sophomore Kristen Hoppman.
Purdue had two runners on in the fifth care of infield singles by Valone and Hughes, but a fly ball and pop up kept the game tied at 2-2.
A single by junior Katie Harrison and a sacrifice bunt gave the Boilers another runner in scoring position in the sixth, but a close play at first kept them from converting it into a score.
The Seawolves went up 3-2 using an RBI single to cash in on a leadoff walk in the sixth. The hit plated the runner from third, who had advanced on a wild pitch and ground out.
The Boilermakers kept hope alive in the seventh as Hughes reached on a two-out infield single and stole second, but a strikeout ended the comeback bid.
Purdue (9-5) returns to action at 9 a.m. ET Sunday against Bethune-Cookman to wrap up its stay at the FGCU/Four Points by Sheraton Invitational.