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COLUMBUS, Ohio - A fifth-inning towering home run by junior Paris Andrew lifted the Boilermakers to a 3-2 victory over Illinois in the opening game of the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday. The win advances Purdue to a noon Friday quarterfinal matchup with No. 4 seed Northwestern live on the Big Ten Network.
Purdue scored its three runs on seven hits and two errors, while holding Illinois to just two runs on four hits. Senior Ashley Burkhardt went 3-for-4 to lead the Boilers at the plate.
Junior Lilly Fecho (20-16) struck out five in the complete-game victory. Jade Vecvanags (19-12) struck out five Boilers in the losing effort for Illinois.
The Boilers capitalized on an Illini miscue for a run in the first inning. Senior Alyssa Koorsen advanced to second to start the game as the shortstop and center fielder collided in shallow center. A single by Burkhardt moved her to third and an infielder grounder by redshirt junior Katie Harrision put Purdue on the board. Burkhardt swiped second and was joined by Andrew and sophomore Kristen Hoppman who were each hit by a pitch to load the bases. A strikeout kept Purdue from adding to the 1-0 lead.
A two-run home run by Nicole Evans put Illinois up 2-1 in the bottom of the first. The home run followed a leadoff walk which was nullified by a fielder's choice.
Purdue put two aboard in the second, but could not bring them home. Freshman Kaylah Hampton drew a leadoff walk, but was out at second on a fielder's choice that put Koorsen on. Junior Mary Gooding added a single to left, but the Illinois left field tracked down a foul fly ball to end the inning.
The Boilers got a runner care of another Illini miscue in the third. Hoppman reached and went to second as the Illinois third baseman's throw after fielding a bunt sailed into right field. A strikeout kept Purdue from making good on the RBI chance.
The Illini got a hit by pitch and single in the fourth, but the Boiler defense held.
Andrew put the Boilers up 3-2 with a towering two-run shot to dead center in the fifth. Burkhardt led off with a single, but was out on a fielder's choice by Harrison. Freshman Stephanie Ramsey pinch ran for Harrison and came in to score on the long ball, which was Andrew's second of the season.
Koorsen drew a one-out walk in the sixth, but a double play kept the Boilers from making good on the free pass.
Illinois threatened, putting runners at second and third on two hits and a fielder's choice, in the sixth, but Fecho ended the threat with a pair of strikeouts.
Burkhardt double down the left field line to start the seventh and was joined on base by Harrison, who was hit by a pitch. A pair of fielder's choice plays and a strikeout stranded pinch runner CJ Parsons at third.
The Boilers clinched the win with a trio of fly balls, including the final out on a high foul ball wrangled by Hampton at the screen.
Purdue (31-24) returns to action at noon Friday against No. 4 seed Northwestern in the Big Ten Tournament quarterfinals. The game will air live on BTN and BTN2GO.com.