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TEMPE, Ariz. - The early going of this Purdue softball season has been highlighted by stout defense and steady pitching.
But the offense has been stagnant, and the Boilermakers find themselves winless through three games following a 4-0 loss to Fresno State on Saturday in the renowned Kajikawa Classic at the Tempe Sports Complex.
Purdue managed merely three hits - all singles - against the Bulldogs and now are batting .151 (11 for 73) for the season.
On the shiny side, the Boilermakers have committed merely one error and boast a staff ERA of 2.95.
Fresno State scored single runs in the first, second, fourth and sixth innings to methodically beat the Boilermakers. Kamalani Dung registered her second shutout of the season, walking two and striking out seven.
The Boilermakers' best scoring opportunity came in the sixth when they got a one-out hit by Kaylah Hampton and a two-out safety by Alexa Binckes. Kristen Hoppman recorded Purdue's other single in the second.
Three pitchers worked for Purdue: starter Kaitlynn Moody (two innings, four hits, two runs) and relievers Brooke Perry (1.1 innings, one run, three walks) and Maddie Damon (3.2 innings, four hits, one run, two strikeouts).
Like Purdue, Fresno State (2-1) has a new head coach. It's Linda Garza, who was an assistant at Purdue form 2006 to 2009. She and the Boilermakers' Boo De Oliveira were on the same staff under Kim Maher in 2008 and 2009, when Purdue made its only two trips to the NCAA Tournament in program history.
The Boilermakers are back in action tout suite with a 5 p.m. ET matchup against Stanford (3-0).
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