STOCKTON, Calif. - Freshman Maddie Damon struck out 10 batters and the offense exploded for seven runs on 12 hits in a 7-1 win over Pacific on Friday evening.
Damon moved to 2-1 on the season with the complete-game victory. Cassidy Gustafson (2-1) was saddled with the loss for Pacific. Megan Walters threw the final inning and two thirds for the Tigers.
Purdue scored its seven runs on 12 hits and three errors, while Pacific managed its run on five hits and an error. All nine batters registered a hit in the game, led by two-hit efforts by senior Mary Gooding, junior Kristen Hoppman and sophomore Maya Hughes.
The Boilermakers struck first with a run on two hits and an error in the second. Freshman Mallory Baker led off with a single. Hoppman reached on a fielder's choice and went to second as the throw trying to turn a double play sailed wide of first base. Senior Paris Andrew picked up the RBI with a single to right.
Pacific put a runner on in the first and third, but the Boilermaker defense held. A first inning walk and a single and an error in the third accounted for the runners.
Purdue filled the bases in the fourth, but could not push a run across. Senior Katie Harrison led off with a single. Pinch runner Morgan Cavinder was sacrificed over to second. Hoppman added a single to right and Andrew was hit by a pitch, joining Cavinder on base. A pair of fielder's choice plays, one at home and another at third, cut the rally short.
The Tigers tied it up with a run on a hit in the bottom of the fourth. A leadoff single, a fielder's choice and a sac bunt set up a sacrifice fly to knot the score.
Hughes and Gooding each singled in the fifth, but could not score.
The Boilermakers broke the game open in the sixth, plating six runs on five hits. Hoppman was hit by a pitch to start the inning, then stole second and went to third on an infield grounder, before coming home on an RBI single by Knight. Damon added a single, then Hughes cleared the bases as she singled to center field. The ball ended up went off the center fielder's glove and ended up rolling all the way to the fence as Knight, Damon and sped Hughes home on the play. Stewart followed with a single and scored on a Gooding double. Gooding went to third on the throw home and scored on a sacrifice by Harrison.
Hoppman doubled to start the seventh and went to third on a fielding error by the second baseman on a pickoff attempt, but a strikeout and ground out ended the stanza.
Pacific got a leadoff single in the bottom of the inning, but two strikeouts and a ground ball to the pitcher sealed the win.
The Boilermakers (7-4) return to action at 5:30 p.m. Saturday against Cal Poly.