LEESBURG, Fla. – In the 2021 season-opener, the Purdue softball team (0-2) dropped two games to No. 17 Michigan (2-0) with a pair of 4-0 losses.
Purdue totaled three hits on the day, with the lone Boilermaker hit in Game One swung by sophomore outfielder Cora Bassett, while junior shortstop Rachel Becker and junior catcher Kaeley Hallada each added a hit in Game Two.
A trio of pitchers stepped in the circle for Purdue, including Sydney Bates (0-1) and relief pitcher Sydney Preston seeing action in the first round against No. 17 Michigan, while Savanah Henley (0-1) pitched a complete game to close the day.
Game One
The Boilermakers opened the season with three straight Michigan outs in the first before all four of the Wolverine runs were notched in the bottom of the third inning. In the final effort by Purdue, Bassett recorded the team's first hit in the top of the seventh on a single to the shortstop. On the next at-bat, Becca Jones reached first on a fielder's choice, as Michigan to decided to catch Bassett out at second to end the chance.
Game Two
Meanwhile, in the second matchup of the day, the Boilermakers held Michigan scoreless through six innings of work while adding a pair of hits in the bottom of the third. Hallada, Purdue's first batter up in the third, singled out to left field before Becker blasted a ball out to right field for her first single of the season. With two outs on the board, the Boilermakers struck out swinging to leave two runners on base.
Michigan recorded all four Wolverine runs in the top of the seventh.
Freshman Savanah Henley (0-1) made her first collegiate start in the effort, pitching a complete game. Henley allowed five hits and five walks in the outing, while striking out one batter.
Up Next
The Boilermakers will return to the Sleepy Hollow Sports Complex in Leesburg, Florida, for another doubleheader tomorrow at 4:30 p.m. ET and 6:45 p.m. ET against Penn State, slated to be streamed live on Big Ten Network Plus and FloSoftball. Live stat updates will not be available.