STOCKTON, Calif. - Junior Kristen Hoppman came through with a home run to tie the game in the sixth, then the Boilermakers piled on three more runs in the eighth under international tie breaker rule to clinch a 6-3 win over Cal State Bakersfield on Sunday.
Senior Lilly Fecho (7-1) picked up the win in relief with 13 strikeouts in the final five and a third innings. Junior Katie Johnson struck out two in the starting effort. Reliever Lyndsay Klimenko (0-3) was saddled with the loss, tossing the final two and a third innings for the Roadrunners. Amber Mills started the game for Bakersfield.
The Boilermakers scored their six runs on seven hits and two errors, including a three-hit effort by Hoppman. Bakersfield managed their three runs on five hits and four errors.
Purdue scored first as senior Katie Harrison launched a solo home run to left field. Freshman Lauren Stewart also singled and freshman Mallory Baker walked in the inning.
Cal State Bakersfield stranded a runner at third in the first after an error and a sacrifice bunt.
The Roadrunners went up 2-1 with two hits and an error in the third. An error, a sacrifice bunt and a ground out set up the first score on an RBI single by Julea Cavazos. A double to right center brought Cavazos home.
Bakersfield added another score, making good on a walk in the fifth. A one-out walk, a steal and a single put runners at first and third. A fielder's choice play at the plate on a sacrifice bunt went the Roadrunners' way, making it 3-1.
Hoppman made CSUB pay in the sixth with the two-run home run, which also scored senior Mary Gooding, who reached on an error to start the inning. Klimenko took over in the circle after the hit.
Bakersfield got a leadoff double in the seventh, but Fecho struck out the side to send the game to extra innings.
Freshman Lauren Stewart was placed on second base to start the eighth per the international tie breaker rule. Gooding singled up the middle to push her to third, then a wild pitch brought her home. A fielder's choice put Harrison aboard. Pinch runner Morgan Cavinder went to third on a ground out and a Hoppman single. Senior Paris Andrew drew a walk to fill the bases for freshman Heather Knight. Knight delivered on the RBI chance, scoring two with a single up the middle. A strikeout prevented further scoring, but the Boilermakers took the 6-3 lead to the bottom of the eighth.
Fecho sealed the win, tacking out three more strikeouts to close out the game.
The Boilermakers (9-5) return to action on Friday when they take on Texas State and USF in Tampa, Florida. .