EVANSTON, Ill. - Junior Lilly Fecho recorded her 200th strikeout of the season, moving into second place on Purdue's season listing, issuing nine Ks in a 2-1 loss to Northwestern on Saturday. The Boilermakers stranded nine runners in the game, including five in scoring position.
Amy Letourneau (11-8) struck out seven in the win for Northwestern, while Kristen Wood threw the final stanza to pick up the save. Fecho (15-9) struck out nine in the complete-game effort for the Boilers, moving her season tally to 206, ranking second all-time behind Suzie Rzegocki's total of 216 in 2010.
Purdue scored its run on four hits and an error, while allowing NU two runs on three hits and an error. Junior Sydney Pencek went 2-for-2 on the day to lead the Boilermaker bats.
Senior Ashley Burkhardt reached on an error in the first, but was left stranded.
The Boilers had a runner on third in the third, after a single by senior Alex Whittemore, but couldn't cash in.
Northwestern combined a fielder's choice and a single for a run in the bottom of the inning. Sabrina Rabin reached on the fielder's choice and stole second before scoring on an Andrea DiPrima hit.
Burkhardt singled to start the fourth and went to second on a passed ball, but the hit was erased by a double play.
The Wildcats went ahead 2-0 with a solo home run by Sammy Nettling in the fourth.
Purdue got one run back in the fifth on an RBI single by Pencek. Pencek's hit drove in junior Mary Gooding, who drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a passed ball and wild pitch. A two-out walk to senior Alyssa Koorsen and hit by pitch to sophomore Kristen Hoppman kept things rolling, but a ground ball kept the Boilers from tying it up.
The Boilers put two on with walks to freshman Kaylah Hampton and Gooding in the sixth, but could not push a run across.
Pencek led off the seventh with an infield single. Freshman Maya Hughes pinch ran for her and promptly swiped second. The Wildcats intentionally walked Burkhardt with two outs and forced a liner to third base to cap the game.
The Boilermakers (24-13, 4-4 Big Ten) will have one more shot at the Wildcats in a 1 p.m. ET contest on Sunday. The game will be streamed live via BTN Plus on BTN2go.com.