CHICAGO ââ'¬" The Boilermakers rallied from a 4-0 deficit but could not complete the comeback bid against DePaul on Wednesday.
Purdue put up its four runs on four hits and four errors, while the Blue Demons managed six runs on six hits and an error. Senior Paris Andrew, sophomore Kaylah Hampton and freshman Emily Kenny and Lexi Huffman accounted for the Boilermaker hits.
Megan Leyva (5-8) struck out one in the first four innings of the win for DePaul, while Morgan Maize earned her first save, striking out four over the final three stanzas. For the Boilermakers, sophomore Gina Snyder was saddled with the loss after striking out one in two and two thirds innings, while freshman Maddie Damon issued two Ks in the final three and a third.
DePaul struck first, scoring four runs in the first inning. A walk, a hit by pitch and a saingle loaded the bases. An illegal pitch scored the first run and a three-run shot to left by Naomi Tellez accounted for the rest.
Purdue answered with three runs on two hits and an error in the second. Freshman Makllory Baker reached on a throwing error and advanced to second on the play and to third on a ground out. Huffman joined her on base after being hit by a pitch, putting runners at the corners for Andrew, who picked up an RBI with an infield single. Kenny plated two more runs with a double to left field. A pop up and ground out left her stranded and kept the game at 4-3 DePaul.
After forcing DePaul to strand a runner in the second and the third, the Boilermakers managed to load the bases in the fourth, but came up empty. A single put Huffman on. A throwing error on a fielder's choice moved her to second and put Andrew on base. Another all-hands-safe fielder's choice filled the bases, but a fly out and ground ball to the shortstop kept Purdue from capitalizing.
The Blue Demons added two insurance runs in the fourth. A leadoff triple to right field set up a sacrifice fly for the first score. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases and another sacrifice fly made it 6-3 DePaul. A ground ball to the shortstop ended the inning.
Purdue continued its comeback bid in the seventh as a pair of miscues put sophomore Maya Hughes on second to start the inning. Hampton came through with a two-out single to second base to bring her home and cut the margin to two. An infield popup, however, ended the game.
The Boilermakers (23-18) return to action at 6 p.m. ET Friday when they welcome the Illinois Fighting Illini to the Boilermaker Softball Stadium for the first of a three-game Big Ten series.