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KISSIMMEE, Fla. - Purdue (3-16) struggled to piece together hits while South Alabama (17-3) plated three runs in the first two innings which proved to be the difference on the final day of the Citrus Classic in Kissimmee, Florida.
The tone was set early for South Alabama as the first batter in the Jaguar lineup, Kaleigh Todd, tripled to the left field wall to lead off the game. Todd scored on the very next pitch as MC Nichols laid down a bunt single. Nichols would later score for the second run of the inning for the Jaguars and Purdue once again faced an early deficit.
Maddie Damon (2-5) provided all that she could inside the circle for Purdue pitching six innings giving up five runs (three earned) while striking out four. The Boilermaker could not play a clean game in the field as they made two errors keeping multiple innings going for the Jaguar lineup.
Kaleigh Todd would once again hurt the Boilermakers in the second inning as she came up with two outs after an error allowed Aly Smith to reach first. Todd launched another ball to the fence resulting in her second triple in as many innings and the Jaguars took a 3-0 lead.
Purdue would narrow the deficit with two outs in the third inning as Kristen Hoppman and Maya Hughes stood on first and second base. An infield single from Mallory Baker plus an error from Kristian Foster at shortstop allowed Hoppman to round third and score the first run of the game for the Boilermakers.
Eventually the pitching of Destin Vicknair (9-1) inside the circle for South Alabama was too much for the Boilermaker lineup as Vicknair went three-up-three-down in the fourth and fifth innings. Vicknair pitched 6.1 innings allowing only five hits, two runs (one earned) while striking out five. Devin Brown replaced Vicknair with one out in the seventh inning and struck out the only two batters she faced for her third save of the year.
Mallory Baker led the Boilermakers this weekend hitting .455 (5-11) with three runs scored and two RBI's. Maddie Damon was excellent inside the circle making three appearances while starting two throwing her first complete game of the season this weekend. Damon pitched 18.0 innings allowing only five earned runs and tallied seven strikeouts compiling a 1.94 ERA.
Purdue ends the weekend 1-4 overall with the lone victory being a shutout over Bryant on Friday night and will once travel to Florida next weekend for five games in the USF Under Armour Showcase. The Boilermakers will face Saint Joseph' and USF Friday, USC Upstate and Villanova Saturday and will finish with Central Michigan on Sunday.
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