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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- After a pair of pitcher's duels Friday and Saturday, the Boilermakers and Fighting Illini brought their bats to life on Sunday, combining for 16 runs on 13 hits in a 10-6 Illinois win.
Illinois scored its 10 runs on five hits and two errors, while Purdue scored six runs on eight hits and two errors. Junior Kristen Hoppman led the Boilermaker bats with two hits, while freshman Mallory Baker managed three RBI and senior Katie Harrison tallied two. Sophomore Maya Hughes and freshman Emily Kenny each scored two runs.
In the circle, Breanna Wonderly (10-8) struck out two in the complete-game victory for Illinois, marking her third complete-game effort of the series. Senior Lilly Fecho struck out one batter in two and two thirds innings for the Boilermakers, starting the game and also tossing the final part of the seventh inning, while sophomore Gina Snyder (5-5) struck out two in four and a third innings of work.
Illinois put up three runs in the second inning to start the scoring, plating the runs on two hits and an error. With two aboard after a leadoff single and hit by pitch, a single to left pushed across the first run. A fielding error with bases loaded brought allowed two more runs to come in.
Purdue got one run back in the bottom of the inning, making good on a leadoff triple by Kenny. Baker was hit by a pitch and stole second, putting two in scoring position for pinch hitter Sydney Pencek, who delivered with a grounder to second base to bring Kenny home.
The Boilermakers cut the margin to one with a run on a hit and an error in the third. Hughes reached on a bunt single and stole second. Senior Mary Gooding joined her after an error by the third baseman. The pair then pulled off a double steal to set up a sacrifice fly by Harrison.
Illinois responded with three runs on a hit in the fourth. A single, a hit by pitch and sacrifice put Illini at second at third. A wild pitch allowed the lead runner to come home. A fielder's choice play and sacrifice fly made it 6-2.
Pencek was hit by a pitch and senior CJ Parsons reached on an error in the fourth, but a double play nullified the Purdue threat.
The Boilermakers knotted the score at 6-all, racking up four runs on five hits in the fifth. Back-to-back-to-back singles by Hughes, Hoppman and Gooding filled the bases to start the inning. Harrison sent a single into right center to score Hughes. A fielder's choice play at the plate put Kenny aboard to fill the bases again. Baker came through with a bases-clearing triple to the right center gap to make it 6-6. A pop up and ground out left Baker aboard at third.
The Illini regained the lead with a three-run home run by Nicole Evans in the sixth. The long ball also brought in runner who reached on a walk and fielder's choice.
Hoppman got a two-out infield single in the sixth, but the Boilermakers could not capitalize.
Illinois tacked on an insurance run in the seventh with a bases loaded RBI ground out. A walk, a fielder's choice and a fielding error filled the bases, setting up the RBI. A diving catch by Kenny in right field foul territory prevented any further damage.
Purdue went down in order in the seventh on two fly outs and a ground ball to the pitcher to end the game.
The Boilermakers (24-20, 6-8 Big Ten) return to action at 6 p.m. Wednesday when they welcome instate foe Butler to the Boilermaker Softball Complex for a non-conference tilt.