FORT MYERS, Fla. - The Boilermakers wrapped up their stay at the FGCU/Four Points by Sheraton Invitational with a 2-0 victory over the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats Sunday morning. Purdue got hits from four different players and another commanding performance by junior Lilly Fecho in the circle.
Fecho issued 11 strikeouts in the complete-game victory, while allowing just three hits. Sabrina Anguiano (2-9) was saddled with the loss for BCU after giving up two runs on four hits in the opening five stanzas. Reliever Bailey Conner faced the final three Purdue batters.
Senior Ashley Burkhardt, junior Mary Gooding and freshmen Maya Hughes and Kaylah Hampton accounted for the four Purdue hits. Bethune-Cookman stranded a runner in six innings, including three in scoring position, and posted hits in the second, third and fourth, but the Purdue defense held.
The Boilermakers struck first combining a pair of hits for a score. Burkhardt sent a double through the left side before coming home on a seeing-eye single to left center by Hampton.
Hughes tripled to the right center wall to start the offense in the third. Senior Alyssa Koorsen joined her on base with a fielder's choice play and stole second, setting the table for a Burkhardt sacrifice fly to right, which made it 2-0.
Purdue loaded the bases on a single, a fielder's choice and a walk in the fifth, but couldn't score. Gooding poked a single up the middle to start the inning. A fielder's choice play put Koorsen on as an error pushed Gooding to second. Burkhardt drew a two-out walk to fill the basepaths, but a fly out ended the threat.
The Boilermakers (10-5) return to action on Friday against Belmont and Ohio at the Frost Classic in Chattanooga, Tenn.