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The Slate
Frost Classic
Frost Stadium/Chattanooga Softball Complex ~ Chattanooga, Tenn.
Live Stats: purduesports.com
Tournament central: here
Friday, Feb. 27
11 a.m. vs. Belmont
4 p.m. vs. Ohio
Saturday, Feb. 28
11 a.m. vs. #10 Kentucky
1:30 p.m. vs. Eastern Kentucky
Sunday, March 1
11 a.m. vs. Tennessee Tech
The Book on the Boilermakers
At First Glance: Purdue (10-5) has won 10 of its last 11 games, heading into the Frost Classic this weekend. The Boilermakers finished the 2014 season with a 27-28-1 overall record, falling in the quarterfinals of the Big Ten Tournament. Purdue returns 11 letterwinners, including three position starters and three pitchers from that team, which earned the No. 6 seed in the tournament after posting a 13-10 record in league play and winning five of its eight conference series. Head coach Kim Schuette is in her second season with the Boilermakers.
Last Time Out: The Boilermakers went 4-1 at the FGCU/Four Points by Sheraton Invitational in Fort Myers, Fla., last weekend. Purdue topped Oakland (4-1), FGCU twice (10-2 (9), 3-1) and Bethune-Cookman (2-0), but fell to Stony Brook (3-2). Junior pitcher Lilly Fecho threw a Purdue game-record 19 strikeouts on Feb. 20 vs. FGCU.
Statistically Speaking: First baseman Ashley Burkhardt and outfielder Maya Hughes lead the team at the plate with better than .400 averages. Burkhardt (.479) has driven in a team-best 21 RBI, scored 16 runs, swiped 12 bases and launched six home runs. Hughes is batting .420 with a double, a triple, nine runs and 12 stolen bases. Catcher Kaylah Hampton (.368), designated player Katie Harrison (.323), third baseman CJ Parsons (.281) and outfielder Kristen Hoppman (.275) also are batting .250 or better. Hampton has driven in 12 RBI, scored eight runs and launched five home runs. Parsons boasts seven runs, a double and an inside the park home run, while Hoppman has three doubles and four runs to her credit. Harrison has accounted for five RBI and a double. Pitcher/designated player Alex Whittemore has four hits, including a double and a home run, in 14 at-bats. As a team, the Boilers are batting .300 with 13 home runs and 30 stolen bases.
In the circle, the Boilermaker pitchers are holding foes to a .203 average. Junior Lilly Fecho (8-2) has posted a 0.88 ERA with 91 strikeouts, two shutouts and a save in 63.2 innings of work. Seniors Lexy Moore (2-2) has issued 10 strikeouts in 23 innings, while Whittemore (0-1) has added six Ks in nine innings. Freshman Gina Snyder has struck out three batters in three and two thirds innings.
What a Difference a Win Makes ...
If the Boilermakers top Belmont on Friday ...
- They will extend their current win streak to two games.
- They will move to 3-0 all-time against the Bruins.
- They will move to 136-110-1 all-time in the month of February, including 8-0 on Feb. 27.
- It would move the team's record to 265-191-1 all-time in neutral site non-conference games.
Series Information
Belmont (Purdue leads the series 2-0): Purdue has won both previous meetings with the Bruins, a 16-0 decision on March 14, 1998 in Tallahassee, Fla., and a 10-1 victory on Feb. 24, 2012, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
Ohio (Purdue leads the series 3-1): The Boilermakers won the first meeting in the series with the Bobcats, taking a 9-7 victory on March 22, 1997 at the Boilermaker Invitational in West Lafayette. The teams split an April 28, 2001, doubleheader, but Purdue won the most recent contest with a 4-1 decision on March 17, 2006, at the Speedline Invitational in Tampa, Fla.
Kentucky (Kentucky leads the series 3-1): The Wildcats have won three of the four meetings in the series which began on Feb. 11, 2000, at the Pepsi Classic in Arlington, Texas. UK won the next meeting in 2002, but Purdue responded with a 5-4 nine-inning win in Chattanooga, Tenn., in 2005. Kentucky took the most recent contest with a 3-0 victory on March 6, 2011, at the SIU Coach B Classic in Carbondale, Ill.
Eastern Kentucky (Purdue leads the series 2-0): The Boilermakers have won both previous meetings with the Lady Colonels, a 9-0 win on March 9, 1996, in Knoxville, Tenn., and a 7-1 victory on Feb. 20, 1999, in Raleigh, N.C.
Tennessee Tech (Purdue leads the series 5-1): The Boilermakers won the first three meetings in the series which began on March 10, 1998 in Orlando, Fla. The Golden Eagles edged Purdue 1-0 in a March 10, 2006 matchup in Clearwater, Fla. The Boilers have taken the last two contests with victories of 4-2 and 1-0 on March 7-8, 2014, at the Georgia Softball Classic in Athens, Ga.
A Bit About Belmont
At First Glance: The Belmont Bruins (3-5) play a Wednesday game at Lipscomb before travelling to Chattanooga for the Frost Classic. Belmont returns 13 letterwinners, including five starters and three pitchers, from the 2014 team, which posted a 13-36 record, and finished 11th in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Bruins are coached by Chris Kuhlmeyer, who is in his sixth season with the team.
Last Time Out: Belmont went 2-2 at the Jackson State Tournament in Jackson, Miss., last weekend. The Bruins topped Saint Louis (6-2) and Jackson State (7-3), but dropped two games to Northwestern State (9-0, 10-3).
Statistically Speaking: Catcher Chelsey Deloney paces the Bruins with a .467 average and leads a group of four batters with averages of .300 or better. Third baseman Jessica Wilson (.391), outfielder Kat Hollingsworth (.375) and designated player Taylor Hodge (.300) round out the group. Wilson has scored a team-best six runs and tallied three doubles. Hodge has driven in a team-leading six RBI and added two doubles, while Hollingsworth has accounted for two doubles, a triple, four RBI and four runs. As a team, Belmont is batting .230 with seven stolen bases and no home runs.
In the circle, junior Taylor Moon (2-2) leads the way with 18 strikeouts in 28 innings of work, including three complete games. Junior Carolyn Snodgrass (1-1) has added eight strikeouts in 12 innings, including a complete game. Junior Shelby Willard (0-1) has struck out four batters in six innings, while senior Katie Clancy has tossed five innings for the Bruins. The staff is allowing foes to hit at a .350 clip, including 10 home runs.
An Overview of Ohio
At First Glance: The Ohio Bobcats (4-4) are returning to action after a week off due to weather cancellations in Bowling Green, Ky. Ohio returns 14 letterwinners, including six starters and four pitchers, from the 2014 team which went 32-26, won the Mid-American Conference Tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Lexington Regional. The Bobcats are coached by Jodi Hermanek, who is in her seventh year with the team.
Last Time Out: The Bobcats went 2-2 at the UNC Charlotte Tournament on Feb. 13-14. The team swept a pair of games from Quinnipiac (9-1, 15-5 (5)), but fell to Charlotte (15-2 (5)) and Army (9-8).
Statistically Speaking: Outfielder Sloan Walker leads a group of six starters with averages of .300 or better. Walker (.483) has scored eight runs and added four RBI and four stolen bases. Pitcher/first baseman Kaylin Clarke (.467), second baseman Mikayla Cooper (.450), third baseman Kasie Hutchinson (.400), outfielder Dakota Pyles (.385) and shortstop Amanda Dalton round out the group. Hutchinson has driven in a team-best 12 RBI with two home runs and two doubles, while Pyles has added eight RBI with a double, a triple and a two home runs. Cooper has chipped in seven RBI, while scoring a team-best nine runs and adding two home runs. As a team, Ohio is batting .341 with eight home runs and 11 stolen bases.
Clarke (2-1) has struck out 13 batters in 16 innings, including a complete game, to lead the pitching staff. Junior Savannah Jo Dorsey (1-1) has added 16 Ks in 12 innings, including a complete game, while holding foes to a .205 average. Sophomore Leanna Bachman (1-0), freshman Sydney Compston (0-1) and senior Lauren McClary (0-1) have combined for four strikeouts in 17 innings of work. The staff has allowed foes a .341 average and 11 home runs.
Keeping Up With Kentucky
At First Glance: The No. 10 Kentucky Wildcats (11-3) have won five of their last seven games coming into the Frost Classic. Kentucky returns 13 letterwinners, including six starters and three pitchers, from the 2014 team, which posted a 50-19 record, finished sixth in the Southeastern Conference and advanced to the Women's College World Series. The Wildcats are coached by Rachel Lawson, who is in her eighth year with the team.
Last Time Out: The Wildcats went 5-1 at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Palm Springs, Calif., last weekend. UK topped No. 10 Arizona (5-2), Long Beach State (13-1), LIU Brooklyn (853-), Oregon State (6-5) and San Diego State (5-2), but fell to No. 3 Oklahoma (7-3).
Statistically Speaking: Outfielder Sylver Samuel leads a group of eight Wildcat starters boasting averages of .250 or better. Samuel (.400) has scored a team-best 16 runs and stolen seven bases. Catcher Griffin Joiner (.364), designated player Breanne Ray (.357), shortstop Christian Stokes (.354), first baseman Maisie Steed (.313), third baseman Nikki Sagermann (.311), second baseman Ansley Smith (.303) and outfielder Brooklin Hinz (.262) round out the group. Joiner has driven in a team-best 18 RBI with eight extra-base hits, including three home runs, while also adding 11 runs. Sagermann has 13 RBI, 15 runs and six extra-base hits, including three homers, while Stokes has added 12 RBI, 11 runs and two home runs. As a team, Kentucky is batting .312 with 11 home runs and 26 stolen bases.
In the circle, junior Kelsey Nunley (4-1) and sophomore lefty Meagan Prince (6-2) have split time. Prince has struck out 39 batters in 42 innings, including three complete games and a save. Nunley has issued 30 Ks in 35 innings, including three complete games, a shutout and a save. Sophomore Shannon Smith (1-0) has added 10 strikeouts in eight innings, while freshman lefty Erin Rethlake has struck out five batters in six innings and earned a save. The staff has allowed foes a .234 average and four home runs.
Chatting About the Colonels
At First Glance: The Eastern Kentucky Colonels (5-6) look to get back on the winning track at the Frost Classic after dropping four of their last six contests. EKU returns 12 letterwinners, including seven starters and four pitchers, from the 2014 team, which posted a 29-22 record and finished second in the Ohio Valley Conference east division. The Colonels are coached by Jane Worthington, who is in her 23rd year with the team.
Last Time Out: The Colonels went 2-3 at the Eagle Classic II in Statesboro, Ga., last weekend. EKU topped Georgia Southern 6-3 in nine innings and Bradley 9-8, but fell to NC State twice (8-1, 5-2) and North Carolina (7-0).
Statistically Speaking: Outfielder Paige Murphy paces the EKU offense with a .313 average, eight runs and three stolen bases. First baseman Kayla Joyce follows with a .281 average, two runs and a triple, while catcher Katie Tackett has posted a .308 average in limited action. Designated player Darcy Schueler (.192) has driven in five RBI with two doubles and a home run, while catcher Sarah Jackson (.152) has accounted for seven RBI with two home runs. Shortstop Krislyn Campos (.176) has scored six runs and swiped three bases. As a team, EKU is batting .204 with four home runs and 10 stolen bases.
In the circle, senior Leanna Pittsenbarger (2-2), junior Hayley Flynn (1-3) and senior Shaylon Robb (2-1) have split time. Pittsenbarger has struck out 25 batters and tossed a shutout in 23 innings of work, while Flynn has added 25 Ks and a save in 20 innings. Robb has issued eight strikeouts in 18 innings of action. Sophomore Alex Sallberg (0-0) and freshman Tory Stewart (0-0) have combined for six strikeouts in 12 innings. The staff is allowing foes a .298 average with 23 extra-base hits.
Getting To Know The Golden Eagles
At First Glance: The Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles (6-7) play in their home state for the first time in 2015 at the Frost Classic this weekend. TTU returns 14 letterwinners, including seven starters and four pitchers, from the 2014 team, which posted a 25-34 record and finished seventh in Ohio Valley Conference play. The Golden Eagles are coached by Bonnie Bynum, who is in her third year with the team.
Last Time Out: The Golden Eagles went 3-1 at the Charleston Southern Tournament in Charleston, S.C., last weekend, topping UNC Wilmington (2-1) and North Carolina A&T (6-3) and splitting contests with Charleston Southern (W 6-4, L 8-5).
Statistically Speaking: Designated player Alyssa Richards leads a group of six players batting .250 or better on the season. Richards boasts a .353 average with six RBI, four runs and two home runs. Outfielder Angi Sakamoto (.295), outfielder Olivia Bennett (.267), third baseman Callen Griffin (.258), first baseman Kelly Kennedy (.256) and second baseman Hannah Eldridge (.250) round out the group. Bennett has driven in a team-leading nine RBI, while scoring a team-best eight runs and launching five home runs. Sakamoto has scored five runs, while adding two doubles, a home run and three stolen bases. As a team, TTU is batting .244 with 10 home runs and eight stolen bases.
Sophomore lefty Danielle Liberatore (3-4) and junior Hannah Weaver (2-2) have split time in the circle. Liberatore has struck out 49 batter in 47 innings, including six complete games, while Weaver has added 11 Ks in 30 innings, including a shutout and a save. Freshman Taylor Waldrop (0-0) and senior Erica Tuck (0-1) have combined for five strikeouts in eight innings. The staff has allowed foes a .292 average and nine home runs.
Fecho Named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week
Junior pitcher Lilly Fecho was named Big Ten Pitcher of the Week for her outstanding performances at the FGCU/Four Points by Sheraton Invitational in Fort Myers, Fla., last weekend. The honor is the second of her career, alongside an April 15, 2013 effort.
Fecho had a hand in all four of Purdue's victories while dominating opponents in the circle, racking up 44 strikeouts in 23 innings of action, including a Purdue game-record 19 Ks against Florida Gulf Coast in a nine-inning complete-game victory on Friday (surpassing Diana LaRiva's mark of 17 from 3/27/04). The junior recorded an ERA of 0.60, surrendering just two earned runs on the weekend.
In her first action of the weekend, the junior came in to face the final batter against Oakland, with two runners on, two outs and the potential game-winner at the plate and promptly pitched issued a three-pitch strikeout to earn the save. Fecho carried the momentum into the rest of the weekend, finishing Day 1 with her record 19 strikeout effort against FGCU, while allowing just one earned run in the complete-game nine-inning win. On Saturday, the Carol Stream, Ill., native, issued 13 strikeouts in another complete-game victory against FGCU, while again allowing just one earned run. Fecho wrapped up the weekend with an 11-strikeout, complete-game three-hit shutout win over Bethune-Cookman.
Strikeout Machine
Junior Lilly Fecho racked up a school game-record 19 strikeouts in a 10-2 nine-inning victory over Florida Gulf Coast on Feb. 20. The K tally surpassed Diana LaRiva's mark of 17 in a seven-inning win over IPFW, which had stood since March 27, 2004.
Swiping Bases
The Purdue game record for stolen bases has already been matched three times in 2015. Senior Ashley Burkhardt has done so twice (vs. Long Island, Feb. 13, and vs. Oakland, Feb. 20) and freshman Maya Hughes has swiped three bases once (vs. Memphis, Feb. 14). The steal record, originally set by Jenny Schoen on April 5, 1995 vs. Valparaiso has been tied 25 times since. Five players have matched the mark twice or more (Molly Garst, 6 times), Ashley Hall (4 times), Liane Horiuchi (4 times), Katie Crabtree (twice) and Burkhardt (twice).