WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Senior first baseman Ashley Burkhardt had quite a night on Wednesday. First, she helped lead the Boilers to an exciting 10-9 walk-off win over Ball State. After the game, she found out that her softball career won't end at Purdue as she was selected with the No. 15 pick in the National Pro Fastpitch draft during the game by the newest league member, the Dallas Charge.
Burkhardt boasts a .332 career average with 123 runs, 110 RBI, eight triples, 20 home runs and 47 stolen bases. She owns the Purdue career for stolen bases in a game (4 vs. Western Michigan, March 15, 2015) and a share of the game record for home runs (2 vs. Coastal Carolina, Feb. 14, 2014). The two-time NFCA All-Region selection and 2014 first team All-Big Ten selection ranks fifth in career sacrifice flies (7) and is approaching the Purdue top five in triples, home runs, RBI, runs, doubles and hits.
In 2015, she is batting .410 with a team-leading 36 RBI, 32 runs, eight home runs and 20 stolen bases.
Burkhardt is the latest Boilermaker to go join the professional softball ranks. In 2015, Andie Varsho signed a contract to play for the NPF's Pennsylvania Rebellion. Purdue previously has had two players affiliated with the NPF as Sheryl Scheve was on the Durham Dragons opening day roster in 1998 and Jenny Schoen was listed on the Virginia Roadsters' 1999 roster. Scheve and Schoen were drafted by Durham in 1998. Sam Mercier was drafted by the Tampa Bay Firestix in December 1998, but did not play for the team. Liane Horiuchi was drafted by the Akron Racers in 2010, but did not play for the team.
The NPF is made up of five teams - the Chicago Bandits, the USSSA Pride, the Akron Racers, the Rebellion and the Charge.