MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - No. 13 Minnesota topped Purdue in a pair heartbreaking late-inning victories on Saturday to end the regular season. The Gophers won Game 1 3-2 in eight innings and took Game 2 4-2 with a sixth-inning rally.
The Boilermakers mustered two hits in Game 1 and four in Game 2, including two by junior Paris Andrew.
Purdue (30-24, 7-14 Big Ten) returns to action on Thursday against a yet-to-be determined opponent in the Big Ten Tournament in Columbus, Ohio.
=#13 Minnesota 3, Purdue 2 (8 Innings)
The Boilermakers got a two-run home run from senior Ashley Burkhardt to knot up the game in the sixth and eventually send the contest to a decisive eighth inning, where Minnesota scored on a walkoff single to steal a 3-2 win.
Purdue scored its two runs on two hits and an error, while allowing the Gophers three runs on eight hits and an error. Burkhardt and senior Alyssa Koorsen accounted for the Boilermaker hits.
Sara Groenewegen (28-4) struck out a Minnesota record 19 batters in the complete-game victory. Junior Lilly Fecho (19-17) issued three Ks in the complete-game effort for Purdue.
Minnesota scored two runs on four hits and an error in the second. The Gophers paired two doubles for the first score, then scored the second on Boilermaker miscue on a sacrifice bunt. Two more singles loaded the bases, but a pair of popups stranded them all.
The Boilers threatened in the fourth inning, putting runners on the corners, but could not push a run across. Koorsen led off with a double to the left center gap and went to third on a sacrifice bunt. Junior Paris Andrew joined her on base as she was hit by a pitch, but a pop up left both aboard.
Purdue tied the score at 2-2 on a two-run shot to right center by senior Ashley Burkhardt. The long ball, which was the 11th of the season for the senior, also scored junior Mary Gooding, who reached on an error.
In the eighth, Gooding was hit by a pitch and Burkhardt was walked on four straight pitches, but a ground ball to the shortstop kept Purdue from cashing in.
Minnesota capitalized on a leadoff walk in the bottom of the eighth to score the winning run. The pinch runner stole second, went to third on a fly ball to the wall and scored on a single off the left field wall by Hannah Granger.
Minnesota 4, Purdue 2
The Boilers took a 2-0 lead into the bottom of the sixth, but No. 13 Minnesota spoiled Purdue's upset bid with a four-run sixth inning to capture the 4-2 victory.
Minnesota scored its four runs on seven hits and two Purdue errors, while the Boilermakers scored their two runs on four hits. Junior Paris Andrew had two hits to lead the Boiler bats.
Nikki Anderson (10-2) struck out nine in the win for Minnesota. Freshman Gina Snyder (7-3) issued three K's in five and two thirds innings, before giving way to senior Lexy Moore, who faced the final two batters.
The Boilermaker defense erased Gopher base runners in the first, second and fourth innings. A fielder's choice and a double play nullified a first inning single by the Gophers and a fly out, strikeout and ground out kept them from making good on a leadoff double in the second. In the fourth, the Boilers turned another double play to get past a pair of hit by pitches.
Purdue took a 1-0 lead with three hits in the fifth inning. A single to left by junior Paris Andrew got things started. A bunt single by sophomore Kristen Hoppman and sacrifice by freshman Kaylah Hampton put two runners in scoring position, setting up an RBI bunt single by junior Sydney Pencek. Junior CJ Parsons was hit by a pitch to load the bases, but the Boilers couldn't add to their lead.
Minnesota put two aboard in the bottom of the inning with a two-out double and a single, but Hoppman saved a run and kept the shutout in tact with a catch against the wall in left center.
The Boilermakers pushed across another run with a bunt in the sixth. Senior Ashley Burkhardt was hit by a pitch and went to third on a double by Andrew. Hoppman then laid down a beautiful sac bunt, but Burkhardt beat the Gophers' fielder's choice throw to the plate for the score.
The Gophers scored four runs on three hits and two errors in the sixth to take the lead. A single and walk put two on for Taylor LeMay, who scored both with a double to center. A single up the middle by Erica Meyer brought LeMay home. Meyer then stole third and scored as the throw to third sailed into left field.
The Boilers went down in order on two fly outs and a ground out to cap the game.