Final Stats ââ'¬" Utah | Final Stats ââ'¬" Lehigh
ORLANDO, Fla. ââ'¬" Defensive miscues plagued the Boilermakers in a pair of losses to NCAA Tournament teams Utah and Lehigh on Sunday. Purdue fell to the Utes 4-2 and to the Mountain Hawks 8-3 after committing a combined seven errors and leaving 13 runners on base in the games.
The Boilermaker pitchers struck out 11 batters in the contests, which saw senior Lilly Fecho (10-4) and freshman Maddie Damon (3-5) saddled with the losses.
Senior CJ Parsons and freshman Lauren Stewart each tallied three hits, while freshman Mallory Baker added two.
Purdue (13-10) returns to action at 11 a.m. Tuesday against two more 2015 NCAA Regional teams in New Mexico State and Florida Atlantic. The games, part of the UCF Round Robin, will be played at UCF Softball Stadium in Orlando.
Utah 4, Purdue 2
Four errors proved to be costly for the Boilermakers in a 4-2 loss to Utah on Sunday.
Purdue scored its two runs on seven hits, including two each by freshman Lauren Stewart and senior CJ Parsons. Utah managed its four unearned runs on five hits and four Boilermaker miscues.
Miranda Viramontes (4-2) struck out six in the win for Utah, while senior Lilly Fecho (10-4) issued five K's in the complete-game effort for Purdue.
Freshman Lauren Stewart legged out an infield single in the second and went to second on a ground ball, but the Boilermakers could not bring her home.
After putting a runner on in the first and second to no avail, Utah cashed in on a Boilermaker miscue for a run in the third. A throwing error allowed a leadoff base runner. Two ground out pushed her to third, from which she scored on a two-out single to left.
Senior CJ Parsons poke a single into right center to start the third, but a double play ended the stanza.
Utah tacked on a run on a hit and two errors in the fifth. Back to back errors gave the Utes two base runners. A single to center field accounted for the RBI.
The Boilermakers snapped the shutout bid in the fifth as freshman Heather Knight lifted a solo home run over the left field wall. Senior Paris Andrew followed with a single, but a double play kept Purdue from capitalizing.
Senior Kristen Hoppman singled and stole second to put a runner in scoring position for Purdue in the sixth. Senior Katie Harrison joined her on base after being hit by pitch, but a ground ball left the score at 2-1.
Utah combined a Boilermaker miscue for a pair of runs in the seventh. An error, an intentional walk and a hit by pitch filled the bases for the Utes. A two-out single to center field made it a 4-1 game.
The Boilermakers got one run back in the bottom of the seventh. Stewart led off with a double and scored after a pair of ground outs. Andrew picked up the RBI. Parsons kept the rally going with a single to left field, but a pop up ended the game.
Lehigh 8, Purdue 3
The Boilermakers led 2-0 after three innings, but allowed eight runs over the next two stanzas and could not recover to complete a comeback.
Lehigh scored its eight runs on 12 hits and three Purdue miscues, while the Boilermakers scored three runs on six hits. Freshman Mallory Baker led the way for Purdue with two hits.
Christine Campbell (6-2) struck out three batters in a complete-game win. Freshman Maddie Damon (3-5) struck out five batters in six and a third innings of work for Purdue, sandwiched around an appearance by junior Katie Johnson.
Both teams put runners on in the first and second, but the Boilermakers struck first with a run on two hits in the second inning. Baker led off with a single and sophomore Kaylah Hampton walked. Damon then ricocheted a single off the pitcher's shin to drive in the run. Hampton went to third and Damon wound up on second, but a ground out prevented Purdue from adding to the lead.
A leadoff triple by senior Mary Gooding set the table for an RBI ground out by freshman Heather Knight in the third.
The flood gates opened in the fourth as Lehigh pushed across six runs on six hits and an error. A hit by pitch and double set up the first score on an RBI single. Another single tied the score at 2-2 and prompted a Boilermaker pitching change. Two more RBI singles, a ground out and a double rounded out the scoring before a strikeout ended the stanza.
Hampton walked and Parsons singled with one out in the fourth, but a pair of fly outs kept Purdue from cutting into the deficit.
The Mountain Hawks tacked on two more runs on two hits and two errors in the fifth. Back-to-back singles brought Damon back to the circle. An error on a sacrifice bunt and a fielder's choice play at the plate, loaded the bases. Another fielder's choice play and error allowed the two scores. A double play ended the inning.
Purdue got one run back in the fifth as freshman Lauren Stewart singled, stole second and went to third on a passed ball. A ground ball off the pitcher brought her home.
The Boilermakers threatened in the sixth, loading the bases as senior Paris Andrew was hit by a pitch and stole second, before being joined by Parsons, who walked, and junior Kristen Hoppman, who was hit by a pitch with two outs. A fly ball to center field cut the rally short.
Baker kept hope alive for the Boilermakers with a two-out single up the middle in the bottom of the seventh, but a fly ball to left field prevented a comeback.