COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Boilermakers hammered out eight hits and got help from clutch defense in a 3-0 win over Ohio State Friday night.
Six Boilermakers contributed hits in the win, led by two-hit efforts by Mary Gooding and Maya Hughes.
Senior Lilly Fecho (17-9) five and allowed just four hits in the shutout victory. Shelby Hursh (14-6) struck out five in five innings of work in the losing effort for Ohio State. Morgan Ray pitched the final two innings for the Buckeyes.
The Boilermakers took a quick 2-0 lead as freshman Lauren Stewart lifted a two-run home run to left in the opening stanza. The long ball also scored freshman Emily Kenny, who reached on a two-out single and took second on a passed ball.
Ohio State threatened in the bottom of the inning, putting two runners in scoring position after a pair of walks and a double steal, but a ground ball to third base ended the inning.
In the second, freshman Mallory Baker walked, was sacrificed over to second, and took third on Maya Hughes single up the middle. Hughes then swiped second, but a strikeout left the Boilermaker pair stranded.
A single and an error gave OSU runners in the second, but a strikeout ended the threat.
In the third, senior Mary Gooding led off with a single to left. Sophomore Kaylah Hampton added a two-out double off the right field wall, but Gooding was called out in a close plate at the plate trying to score from first.
The Buckeyes put a runner on third in the third after a bunt single, a caught foul and a wild pitch, but a ground ball to first base ended the inning.
Purdue combined two singles and a sac fly for a score in the fifth. Junior Kristen Hoppman reached on a bunt single, stole second and went to third on a Gooding single to left center. Kenny picked up the RBI with the fly ball to center.
Hughes added her second hit of the game with a bunt single in the seventh, but a double play kept Purdue from adding to its advantage.
Ohio State attempted to mount a comeback in the final stanza, tallying a pair of one out singles. A wild pitch moved the pair into scoring position with two away. A ground ball to second base capped the game.
The Boilermakers (26-20, 7-8 Big Ten) face the Buckeyes again at 2 p.m. ET Saturday.