MADEIRA BEACH, Fla. – The Purdue softball team swept its opening day of the Madeira Beach College Invitational, earning a 12-3 five-inning victory over Middle Tennessee, before taking a 5-2 win over the University of North Florida (UNF) on a sunny Friday in Madeira Beach.
With the two wins, the Boilermakers improve to 5-4 on the season, its best start since 2016.
Purdue 12, Middle Tennessee 3 | Five Innings
After a scoreless first inning, the Blue Raiders (5-7) got on the board with an RBI single from Ryan King.
Unfazed, the Boilermakers scored in each of the last three innings en route to a 12-3 run-rule victory over 2018 NCAA qualifier Middle Tennessee as a double from freshman Rachel Becker and singles from freshman Kasey Wilhoit, junior Madison Douglass and senior Kaitlynn Moody put Purdue up, 3-1, in the third.
An RBI double from Becker, followed by an RBI single up the middle from Wilhoit than gave the Boilermakers a 5-1 edge in the top of the fourth with only one out. Maintaining its control, Purdue claimed its sixth run on a MT catching error, before loading the bases on a hit-by-pitch situation.
With the bases loaded and one out, junior Alexa Binckes smashed a grand slam over the left center field fence, giving Purdue a 10-1 advantage. Freshman Kendall Chase added one last run in the frame with her own home run over the left field fence. Chase would add an RBI single in the top of the fifth for Purdue's final run of the game.
MT added a pair of runs in the fourth and fifth innings, but a solid Boilermaker defense capped the Blue Raiders at three runs for the run-rule victory.
Moody (2-1) got the win for Purdue in the circle as she pitched 2.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits and three walks. Senior Maddie Damon pitched 2.1 innings of relief, allowing only one walk while recording Purdue's solo strike out of the contest.
Sarah Pinkston (1-3) took the loss for MT in 3.1 innings of work, allowing five runs on nine hits with a walk and a strikeout.
Overall, the Boilermakers registered 14 hits with zero errors in the win, while the Blue Raiders totaled only six hits with two errors. Wilhoit paced the team with a 3-for-3 effort, while Binckes' grand slammed earned a game-best four RBI.
Purdue 5, UNF 2
The Boilermakers struck first with runs in the first three innings as senior Jenny Behan hit an RBI triple down the right field line in the first, before Chase and senior Lexi Huffman registered RBI singles in the second and third frames, respectively.
UNF (5-5) answered back with a pair of scores in the third, but the Boilermakers cushioned their lead with two more runs in the bottom of the fifth as Behan notched an RBI double, before freshman Rylee Platusic delivered an RBI sac fly for the 5-2 edge.
Redshirt sophomore Sydney Bates (1-1) earned the win after not relinquishing any earned runs on six hits, while striking out five over seven innings.
The Boilermakers look to extend their momentum on Saturday against Albany (11 a.m.) and South Dakota (4 PM).
With the two wins, the Boilermakers improve to 5-4 on the season, its best start since 2016.
Purdue 12, Middle Tennessee 3 | Five Innings
After a scoreless first inning, the Blue Raiders (5-7) got on the board with an RBI single from Ryan King.
Unfazed, the Boilermakers scored in each of the last three innings en route to a 12-3 run-rule victory over 2018 NCAA qualifier Middle Tennessee as a double from freshman Rachel Becker and singles from freshman Kasey Wilhoit, junior Madison Douglass and senior Kaitlynn Moody put Purdue up, 3-1, in the third.
An RBI double from Becker, followed by an RBI single up the middle from Wilhoit than gave the Boilermakers a 5-1 edge in the top of the fourth with only one out. Maintaining its control, Purdue claimed its sixth run on a MT catching error, before loading the bases on a hit-by-pitch situation.
With the bases loaded and one out, junior Alexa Binckes smashed a grand slam over the left center field fence, giving Purdue a 10-1 advantage. Freshman Kendall Chase added one last run in the frame with her own home run over the left field fence. Chase would add an RBI single in the top of the fifth for Purdue's final run of the game.
MT added a pair of runs in the fourth and fifth innings, but a solid Boilermaker defense capped the Blue Raiders at three runs for the run-rule victory.
Moody (2-1) got the win for Purdue in the circle as she pitched 2.2 innings, allowing one run on three hits and three walks. Senior Maddie Damon pitched 2.1 innings of relief, allowing only one walk while recording Purdue's solo strike out of the contest.
Sarah Pinkston (1-3) took the loss for MT in 3.1 innings of work, allowing five runs on nine hits with a walk and a strikeout.
Overall, the Boilermakers registered 14 hits with zero errors in the win, while the Blue Raiders totaled only six hits with two errors. Wilhoit paced the team with a 3-for-3 effort, while Binckes' grand slammed earned a game-best four RBI.
Purdue 5, UNF 2
The Boilermakers struck first with runs in the first three innings as senior Jenny Behan hit an RBI triple down the right field line in the first, before Chase and senior Lexi Huffman registered RBI singles in the second and third frames, respectively.
UNF (5-5) answered back with a pair of scores in the third, but the Boilermakers cushioned their lead with two more runs in the bottom of the fifth as Behan notched an RBI double, before freshman Rylee Platusic delivered an RBI sac fly for the 5-2 edge.
Redshirt sophomore Sydney Bates (1-1) earned the win after not relinquishing any earned runs on six hits, while striking out five over seven innings.
The Boilermakers look to extend their momentum on Saturday against Albany (11 a.m.) and South Dakota (4 PM).