TAMPA, Fla. - The Purdue softball team continued its 12-game Florida spring break trip with a heartbreaking 4-3 loss to USF in extra innings on Thursday afternoon.
The game marked the second extra-inning contest for the Boilermakers this season, after Purdue took Pitt to eight innings in its opening weekend.
With the loss, the Boilermakers move to 17-8 on the season.
Purdue struck first and built a 2-0 lead as senior Lexi Huffman brought in the game's first runs on a two-RBI single to left field in the top of the first. The veteran's hit brought in senior Jenny Behan and freshman Kasey Wilhoit, who reached on a walk and hit-by-pitch, respectively.
The Bulls (20-10) answered in the bottom of the third with an RBI single to center field to cut the Boilermaker's lead in half at 2-1.
The Boilermaker defense stalled the home team's momentum, retiring the Bulls in order over the next two innings.
In the bottom of the sixth, USF got two runners on, but a switch in the circle for Purdue kept the threat at bay and the Boilermakers in the lead.
With Purdue leading 2-1, the Bulls found the equalizer in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI double from AnaMarie Bruni that bounced over the fence in right center.
The tied score lasted until the top of the ninth when Purdue retook the lead at 3-2 on a solo home run over the left field fence by freshman Alex Echazarreta. The hit marked Echazarreta's first collegiate home run and Purdue's 14th long ball on the season.
However, the Boilermaker advantage was short lived as USF capitalized on its last chance in the bottom of the inning. The Bulls lead off with a walk and a single through the left side, before a second RBI double from Bruni knotted the score, 3-3. USF would get the go-ahead run and the victory with an RBI single by Megan Pierro.
Purdue totaled five hits from five different Boilermakers in the setback.
In the circle, starting pitcher Kaitlynn Moody (5-3) took the loss after allowing three earned runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings pitched. Redshirt sophomore Sydney Bates pitched 2.2 innings of relief, giving up just one run on two hits, while striking out four.
Purdue continues its spring break slate with a pair of games against Florida A&M and Lafayette College tomorrow at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex. First pitch for game one is set for 11:45 a.m. ET, with game two to follow at 2:15 p.m.
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The game marked the second extra-inning contest for the Boilermakers this season, after Purdue took Pitt to eight innings in its opening weekend.
With the loss, the Boilermakers move to 17-8 on the season.
Purdue struck first and built a 2-0 lead as senior Lexi Huffman brought in the game's first runs on a two-RBI single to left field in the top of the first. The veteran's hit brought in senior Jenny Behan and freshman Kasey Wilhoit, who reached on a walk and hit-by-pitch, respectively.
The Bulls (20-10) answered in the bottom of the third with an RBI single to center field to cut the Boilermaker's lead in half at 2-1.
The Boilermaker defense stalled the home team's momentum, retiring the Bulls in order over the next two innings.
In the bottom of the sixth, USF got two runners on, but a switch in the circle for Purdue kept the threat at bay and the Boilermakers in the lead.
With Purdue leading 2-1, the Bulls found the equalizer in the bottom of the seventh with an RBI double from AnaMarie Bruni that bounced over the fence in right center.
The tied score lasted until the top of the ninth when Purdue retook the lead at 3-2 on a solo home run over the left field fence by freshman Alex Echazarreta. The hit marked Echazarreta's first collegiate home run and Purdue's 14th long ball on the season.
However, the Boilermaker advantage was short lived as USF capitalized on its last chance in the bottom of the inning. The Bulls lead off with a walk and a single through the left side, before a second RBI double from Bruni knotted the score, 3-3. USF would get the go-ahead run and the victory with an RBI single by Megan Pierro.
Purdue totaled five hits from five different Boilermakers in the setback.
In the circle, starting pitcher Kaitlynn Moody (5-3) took the loss after allowing three earned runs on eight hits in 5.1 innings pitched. Redshirt sophomore Sydney Bates pitched 2.2 innings of relief, giving up just one run on two hits, while striking out four.
Purdue continues its spring break slate with a pair of games against Florida A&M and Lafayette College tomorrow at the Eddie C. Moore Softball Complex. First pitch for game one is set for 11:45 a.m. ET, with game two to follow at 2:15 p.m.
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