WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A solo home run in the top of the 10th inning was the difference in a 2-1 game that featured a 45-minute rain delay and 20 combined runners left on base. Rutgers won the game and took the series two games to one over the Boilermakers.
Rutgers scored its two runs on eight hits and an error, while the Boilers managed their run on three hits and three errors. Seniors Alyssa Koorsen and Ashley Burkhardt and freshman Kaylah Hampton accounted for the Boilermaker hits.
Alyssa Landrith (8-5) struck out five Boilermakers in the complete game victory, while junior Lilly Fecho (15-7) issued 13 Ks in the complete game effort for Purdue.
Rutgers scored first, combining a leadoff triple and a seeing eye single to shallow right field for a run in the opening stanza. Stephanie Huang had the triple and Jordan Whitley picked up the RBI.
The Boilers got their first base runner as senior Koorsen reached on a fielding error to start the first. She was later caught stealing.
Redshirt junior Katie Harrison drew a leadoff walk in the second, but a double play erased the base runner.
Purdue put two aboard with an error and a walk in the third, but was unable to score. Junior Lexi Valone reached on the miscue and was joined by freshman Maya Hughes, who walked. A pair of fly balls ended the inning.
The Scarlet Knights threatened again in the fourth with a leadoff double and a steal, but Fecho forced a ground out and two strikeouts to escape unscathed.
Senior Ashley Burkhardt walked to start the fourth, but a double play kept her from advancing. Freshman Kaylah Hampton was hit by a pitch with two outs, but left stranded by a pop up.
Heavy rain forced a rain delay with one-out and a full count on the next batter in the fifth. After play resumed, Rutgers earned a walk and stole a base, but a strikeout and fly out ended the inning.
The Boilermakers tied the game with a run on a hit and an error in the bottom of the stanza. Hughes was hit by a pitch with two outs, went to second on Koorsen's single to the shortstop and scored on an error as the pitcher dropped a CJ Parsons' pop up.
Rutgers stranded a runner at third in the sixth after a leadoff double. The Scarlet Knights left the bases full in the seventh, wasting a single and two walks.
Both teams left a runners aboard in the eighth and ninth. Rutgers failed to capitalize on a miscue, while the Boilermakers couldn't convert on Burkhardt's two-out single in the eighth. In the ninth, the Scarlet Knights had a single and a walk erased by a fielder's choice play and a fly ball, while the Boilers couldn't made good on a leadoff single by Hampton in the bottom of the inning.
Rutgers scored the game winner on a leadoff home run by Melanie Slowinski in the 10th. The Scarlet Knights also had a double in the inning, but the Boilers escaped further damage with a fly out and two ground outs.
Purdue went down in order on a strikeout and two ground outs to end the game.
The Boilermakers (23-11, 4-2 Big Ten) return to action at 5 p.m. Wednesday when they take on Ball State in non-conference action. The game has been designated as Purdue Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day. All faculty/staff will receive $1 admission with their ID.
The game will be streamed live on BTN2Go.com through the BTN Plus subscription service. Live audio broadcast and live stats also will be available at purduesports.com.