WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- The Boilermakers put up five runs in the first four innings and held on for the shutout victory over Butler Wednesday night.
Sophomore Maya Hughes went 3-for-3 to lead the Purdue bats, which managed eight hits and also had help from two Bulldog miscues. For its part, Butler tallied just two hits in the game, singles in the first and fourth innings.
Sophomore Gina Snyder struck out five and allowed just one hit in the opening three stanzas. Freshman Maddie Damon (4-6) took over in the fourth and went three innings, striking out four in the victory. Junior Katie Johnson wrapped up the game, striking in one in the seventh. Ambry Turpen (1-1) allowed two runs on two hits and walked three in an inning and two thirds en route to the loss. Kacey Starwalt and Addison Baumle also saw time in the circle for the Bulldogs.
Butler got a single to lead off the game, but the runner was caught stealing the following play. The next batter was hit by a pitch and stole second, but a strikeout and pop up left her stranded.
The Boilermakers put up two runs on two hits in the second after loading the bases on a pair of two-out walks and a single. Sophomore Kaylah Hampton earned the first free pass. Freshman Lauren Stewart followed with a single and senior CJ Parsons filled the bases with a walk of her own. Hughes picked up the RBI with a perfect bunt single. Junior Kristen Hoppman drew a two-out walk to push Stewart home and make it 2-0.
Purdue tacked on two more runs on three hits in the third. Senior Katie Harrison led off with a single to left center. Johnson came in to pinch runner and scored shortly after on a two-run shot to left field by freshman Emily Kenny. Hampton followed with a single up the middle and went to third on a sacrifice and a passed ball. Parsons joined her on base with a walk, but a double play kept the Boilermakers from adding to the 4-0 advantage.
Butler got a walk and a single to start the fourth, but a strikeout and a double play nullified the threat.
The Boilermakers added one more insurance run in the fourth care of two hits and a Bulldog miscue. Hughes singled and stole second. Hoppman reached on a bunt single and got caught in a rundown between first and second as Hughes circled home. Johnson then reached on a fielding error, took second on a passed ball and swiped third, before Kenny joined her with a walk, but a pop up ended the inning.
Parsons drew her third walk of the game to lead off the fifth. A bunt single by Hughes combined with a throwing error pushed her to third. Hughes stole second to put two runners in scoring position, but a ground out kept the score at 5-0.
A walk and fielding error gave Butler two runners in the sixth, but a strikeout kept the shutout in tact.
After allowing a leadoff walk in the seventh, Johnson forced a pop up, a fielder's choice and finally a looking strikeout to clinch the Boilermaker victory.
Purdue (25-20) returns to action at 6 p.m. Friday when it kicks off a three-game series with Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio.