Video: Coach Schuette On the Win
Video: Fecho on her No-Hitter
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermaker softball team closed out its 2015 home season in fine fashion Wednesday night as junior Lilly Fecho threw her first career no-hitter, the first in the newly minted Boilermaker Softball Stadium, and senior Ashley Burkhardt bid adieu to the facility with a home run, which gave Purdue the 2-0 victory over Indiana State.
Fecho (19-14) struck out nine batters in the complete-game victory, which was only a fourth-inning error away from being a perfect game. Taylor Lockwood (14-13) was saddled with the loss for ISU after giving up two runs on eight hits to the Boilermakers. Reliever Yvette Alvarez struck out two in an inning of relief work.
The no-hitter was Purdue's first since Alex Whittemore vs. Mississippi Valley State on Feb. 23, 2014, and the 13th complete-game no-hitter in program history (15th including two combined no-hitters). Fecho had tossed four complete-game one hitters in 2015, against No. 1 Texas A&M (Feb. 8), against Indiana State (March 6) and against Wisconsin (March 20 and 21).
Seven Boilermakers had hits in the game, with junior Paris Andrew leading the way with a two-hit effort.
Andrew had the first hit of the game with a bunt single in the second inning, but the Boilers could not cash in on the hit.
Purdue loaded the bases in the third inning but could not score. Sophomore Kristen Hoppman and junior CJ Parsons led off the inning with singles and advanced into scoring position on sacrifice bunt by junior Lexi Valone. A fielder's choice play saw Hoppman out in a close play at the plate. Junior Mary Gooding filled the empty base at first with a walk, but a fly ball to center field kept the game scoreless.
A muffed catch gave Indiana State a baserunner to start the fourth inning and a sacrifice bunt moved her over to second, but a pop up and ground out kept the shutout intact.
Andrew singled up the middle and freshman Maya Hughes added a single to the shortstop in the fourth, but two pop ups left the scoreboard blank.
Senior Alyssa Koorsen sent a single up the middle with one out in the fifth, but was caught stealing second. Gooding followed with a single up the middle and Burkhardt smashed her 10th home run of the season to give Purdue all of the runs it needed.
A ground ball to the shortstop, a pop up to second base and a great running snag by Hughes in right field sealed the no-hitter for Fecho.
With the win, the Boilermakers (30-21) reach the 30-win milestone for the 15th time in program history and first since 2012. Purdue will wrap up the regular season with a three-game series against Minnesota in Minneapolis this weekend.