FORT MYERS, Fla . - Senior Lilly Fecho struck out eight to match Suzie Rzegocki's career strikeouts record of 728 and the Boilermakers chipped in five runs on 10 hits, including three hit efforts by freshmen Lauren Stewart and Heather Knight in a 5-1 win over Florida Gulf Coast Thursday night.
Fecho picked up the complete-game victory to move to 12-4 on the season. Reliever Gabbee Draney (3-3) was saddled with the loss for FGCU after giving up four runs in three innings of work. Riley Randolph struck out three in the opening four stanzas.
Purdue tallied its five runs on 10 hits, including base hits by six different players, and two errors. The defense allowed a run on six hits and two errors.
The Boilermakers plated a run on two errors and a sac fly in the first inning. Junior Kristen Hoppman reached on a fielding error by the shortstop, stole second and went to third on a ground ball, setting up the sacrifice fly to right by senior Katie Harrison.
Purdue loaded the bases in the second as Knight and senior CJ Parsons singled and Hoppman reached on a two-out intentional walk. A fielder's choice play at the plate kept the Boilermaker lead at 1-0.
Fecho pitched over a pair of singles in the second.
Stewart added a two-out single in the third, but was left stranded by a pop up.
The Eagles scored their lone run on a third-inning sacrifice fly. The fly ball came with a bases loaded after two singles and a walk. A pop up prevented further scoring.
Parsons walked and senior Sydney Pencek singled to lead off the fourth, but Purdue couldn't regain the lead.
The Boilermakers broke through with two runs on three hits in the fifth inning to pull away. Harrison walked. Pinch runner Maya Hughes stole second and scored on a Stewart double to left. Stewart stole third and came home herself on a Knight single to center. Senior Paris Andrew added a single in the stanza, but a ground and strikeout left it at 3-1 Purdue.
FGCU threatened, putting two aboard with singles, but Fecho ended the inning with a strikeout.
Hoppman walked, stole second and went to third on a sac bunt. A grounder to second base by Harrison brought her in to score and make it 4-1.
The Boilermakers combined a leadoff double by Stewart and a single by Knight for the final score of the game in the seventh. Freshman Lexi Huffman tallied a pinch hit single and Parsons laid down a sacrifice bunt to put runners at second and third. Hoppman walked to fill the bases, but a ground ball to first base ended the inning.
FGCU put two on in the seventh due to an error and a fielder's choice, but Fecho cleaned up the bases with two more strikeouts.
The Boilermakers (15-11) return to action at 2 p.m. Friday when they take on Iowa State.