CLEARWATER, Fla. - A record setting performance on the base paths from senior Ashley Burkhardt and a 10-strikeout effort from junior Lilly Fecho highlighted a 3-1 Boilermaker win over Western Michigan Sunday morning.
Burkhardt stole four bases in the game, snapping the previous record of three which had been reached 25 times since 1994, including twice by Burkhardt this season.
The Boilermakers scored their four runs on eight hits and two errors, while allowing the Broncos a run on four hits and two errors. Senior Alyssa Koorsen and junior Paris Andrew had two hits apiece to lead the Purdue bats.
Fecho (13-4) picked up her third straight win with the complete-game effort. Allyson Kus went the distance for WMU, striking out just one Boilermaker.
The Boilers scored first, plating a run on three hits in the first. Redshirt junior Katie Harrison picked up the RBI with a two-out single up the middle, scoring Burkhardt, who was on second after a fielder's choice and a steal. Freshman Maya Hughes and Koorsen also had singles in the stanza.
A single and an error made it 2-0 Boilers after two innings. Andrew led off with a single up the middle. A ground ball moved her two second. A fielding error by the second baseman allowed her to come home.
A three-hit third put Purdue on top 3-0. Koorsen singled, but was caught stealing. Burkhardt followed with a single through the right side. She promptly stole second and third, before scoring on a wild pitch. Freshman Kaylah Hampton also had a hit in the inning.
WMU got its first hit with a two-out double in the fourth. The Broncos snapped the shutout bid with a run on two hits in the fifth. A leadoff double followed by a fly ball set the table for an Erin Binkowski RBI single. A ground ball stranded a runner at second base.
The Boilers threatened, putting runners at second and third in the fifth, but could not add to the 3-1 edge. Burkhardt reached on an error and stole second. Redshirt junior Katie Harrison walked. Pinch runner Sydney Pencek and Burkhardt moved into scoring position on a passed ball, but a fly ball to center field was wrangled to end the inning.
Andrew added a leadoff single in the sixth, but was left stranded at third after advancing on a wild pitch and ground ball to the pitcher.
Western Michigan had the tying run at second base in the seventh, but the Boilermaker defense held. An error and a double gave the Broncos runners at second and third, but a caught foul ball and Fecho's 10th strikeout of the day capped the Purdue win.
The Boilermakers (17-8) return to action at 1:30 p.m. ET to face Colgate.