WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermakers split a Saturday doubleheader with Rutgers, falling 5-0 in Game 1, but rebounding with an 11-8 win in Game 2.
In Game 1, the Boilers stranded eight runners and couldn't hold off the Rutgers bats. In Game 2, the teams combined for 19 runs on 31 hits and three errors as six pitchers took the circle.
Senior Alyssa Koorsen had four hits on the day, going 4-for-4 in Game 2, while redshirt junior Katie Harrison also had a four-hit day with two hits in each contest. Koorsen also matched the school record for runs with four in Game 2, while the Boilermaker pitchers gave up a record-tying 17 hits in the contest.
Junior Lilly Fecho threw seven and two thirds innings, striking out 10 batters on the day. Senior Lexy Moore added three Ks in the games, while freshman Gina Snyder struck out four in a Game 2 start.
The Boilermakers (23-10, 4-1 Big Ten) will face off with the Scarlet Knights at 1 p.m. Sunday in the rubber game of the series.
Rutgers 5, Purdue 0
The Scarlet Knights scored in the first, fourth, fifth and sixth innings, while holding the Boilermakers at bay in the shutout victory.
Alyssa Landrith (7-5) struck out three batters in the complete-game win, while junior Lilly Fecho issued six Ks in five innings in the loss. Senior Lexy Moore issued one strikeout in two innings of relief.
Rutgers scored its first run with a one-out home run by Chandler Howard in the opening stanza.
The Boilermakers threatened in the bottom of the inning, loading the bases on an error, a fielder's choice and a walk, but couldn't tie it up.
Sophomore Kristen Hoppman gave Purdue its first hit with a leadoff single in the second and junior Lexi Valone followed with a single down the right field line, but a fielder's choice play at third and a pop up capped the inning.
A Harrison single and a two-out walk to junior Paris Andrew in the third went begging.
The Scarlet Knights added a run on two hits in the fourth, capitalizing on a leadoff with a Rebecca Hall single.
A Valone single and a walk to freshman Maya Hughes went unused in the fourth with a double play and a strikeout erasing the runners.
Rutgers made it 4-0 with a two-run, three hit fifth with help from a Boilermaker miscue. A leadoff double and two singles loaded the bases. A ground ball to second scored a run and fielding error with bases loaded allowed the other. A strikeout left three aboard at inning's end.
Elizabeth Adams lifted a solo homer off of Moore with one out in the sixth to cap the scoring.
The Boilermakers went down in order in the sixth and seventh to end the game.
Purdue 11, Rutgers 8
The Boilermakers got their 11 runs on 14 hits and two errors, including a 4-for-4 effort by senior Alyssa Koorsen and two-hit days by redshirt junior Katie Harrison and junior Paris Andrew, while allowing Rutgers eight runs on a record-tying 17 hits and an error. Koorsen tied a Purdue game record with four runs in the contest, matching a mark that had been achieved six previous times, last by Andie Varsho on April 3, 2013 at IUPUI.
Freshman Gina Snyder struck out four batters in the starting effort, while senior Lexy Moore (3-3) issued two Ks in the win and junior Lilly Fecho capped the day with four more strikeouts in the final two innings. Started Dresden Maddox (4-3) was saddled with the loss for Rutgers. Shayla Sweeney and Aubrie Levine also saw time in the circle for the Scarlet Knights in the game, combining to pitch the final two and two thirds innings.
The Boilers scored first, getting a run on a sacrifice fly by senior Ashley Burkhardt in the bottom of the first. The fly ball plated Koorsen, who had a leadoff double and went to third on a wild pitch. Harrison also had a double in the inning.
Rutgers loaded the bases in the second with three hits, but the Boilermaker defense held.
The Scarlet Knights took a 3-1 lead, however, with three runs on five hits in the third. Four straight hits - a leadoff triple, an RBI single, an RBI double and another RBI single - accounted for the scores. Moore gave up the final single, but forced a foul out, a fly out and a grounder to escape further damage.
Purdue knotted it up with two runs on three hits in the bottom of the inning. Koorsen singled, stole second and went to third on a wild pitch, before coming home as Burkhardt sent a triple double the right field line. Harrison plated Burkhardt with a grounder to the shortstop.
The Boilermakers pulled away with a four-run, four hit fourth inning. Singles by junior Lexi Valone and freshman Maya Hughes set up a two-RBI triple by Koorsen. Sweeney took over in the circle and allowed sophomore Kristen Hoppman a walk and a stolen base. Another sac fly by Burkhardt brought Koorsen home, while a single up the middle by Harrison drove in Hoppman to put Purdue on top 7-3.
Rutgers got one run back, plating a run on a Fecho wild pitch after three straight singles to start the fifth. A pair of Ks by Fecho left the bases full at inning's end.
Purdue managed four insurance runs on three hits and an error in the fifth. Two fielder's choice plays and a pair of steals put Gooding and Valone at second and third with one out and freshman Maya Hughes stepping to the plate. Hughes picked up an RBI with a grounder to second base. Koorsen scored Gooding with a single up the middle and then came home herself thanks to a triple to right center by Hoppman. Burkhardt was intentionally walked giving Purdue runners at the corners. She then swiped second, allowing Hoppman to steal home to give Purdue an 11-4 edge.
Both teams stranded a runner at third in the sixth.
Rutgers did not go down easily, however, scoring four runs in the seventh with help from four hits and an error. A two-out single and a throwing error gave the Scarlet Knights runners at the corners. An infield single scored a run. Another single filled the bases for Jackie Bates, who cleared them with a double to right center. A ground ball to second base followed to cap the game.