CLEARWATER, Fla. - A two-run triple by freshman Kaylah Hampton in the sixth inning was enough to lift the Boilermakers to a 2-1 victory over Quinnipiac Saturday morning.
The hit to the center field wall was the difference in the game which was a pitchers' duel featuring just four hits through five innings. Junior Lilly Fecho (12-4) picked up the win after issuing three strikeouts in an inning and a third of relief work. Senior Lexy Moore struck out six batters in the starting effort. Hannah Lindsley (0-6) went five and third and struck out three batters in the start for Quinnipiac. Reliever Sydney Robey faced three batters in the sixth.
Purdue put up its two runs on four hits, while Quinnipiac scored its run on four hits. Senior Alyssa Koorsen, redshirt junior Katie Harrison, junior Mary Gooding and Hampton accounted for the Boilermaker offensive output.
The Bobcats had a one-out single in the first and moved the runner to second with a steal, but left her stranded.
Harrison provided the first hit for the Boilers, a leadoff walk to shallow center field to start the second. Moore pinch ran and went to second on a passed ball, but the team couldn't bring her home.
Quinnipiac had a leadoff single in the third, but a fielder's choice and caught stealing erased the base runner.
Gooding singled up the middle to start the Purdue third, but Purdue could not capitalize.
The Boilers had two runners aboard in the fourth as Hampton drew a two-out walk and junior Paris Andrew was hit by a pitch, but a runner interference call the next play ended the inning.
Lindsley helped her own cause with a leadoff home run in the sixth to break the scoreless tie. A single, sac bunt and ground out gave the Bobcats a runner at third, but Fecho came in and issued a three-pitch looking strikeout to escape further damage.
Koorsen got things rolling for Purdue in the sixth by punching a leadoff single into right center. Senior Ashley Burkhardt reached on a fielder's choice and Koorsen went to second on a throwing error. The pair pulled off a double steal setting the table for Hampton's game-winning hit. Sophomore Kristen Hoppman walked after the QU pitching change, but a fielder's choice play at the plate stranded Boilers at the corners.
The Bobcats went down in order on a ground out and two strikeouts to seal the Purdue win.