CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Two home runs in four at-bats over two innings propelled the Purdue softball team to a 6-4 win over Illinois in the series finale on the road Sunday afternoon. Kaitlyn Brannstrom and Rachel Becker drove in four combined runs through the long ball to end the weekend series with a win.
Purdue outhit Illinois 9-8 on the afternoon with six different players picking up a base knock. Becker went 2-for-4, Ryleigh Scott was 2-for-3 with a walk. Brannstrom had a career day with a perfect 3-for-3 with three RBI, two runs scored and two extra-base hits.
Pitching dominated the early stages of the game with neither side scoring and only two combined hits over the opening four innings.
Purdue starter Alex Echazarreta was handed a no-decision following four innings of action with a pair of earned runs and four hits against. Illinois hurler Sydney Sickels struck out four, scattered six hits and allowed four runs in 5 2/3 innings.
The Boilermakers broke the deadlock in the top of the fifth. Brannstrom roped a leadoff double to right center and later reached third on a sacrifice bunt from Becca Jones. Pinch hitter Kasey Wilhoit drove in the opening run of the game on a sac fly to center field.
Illinois responded in the bottom half of the frame with three runs through a bases-loaded walk, a fielder's choice and a wild pitch to take a 3-1 lead.
Purdue bounced right back in the top of the sixth with two outs. Cora Bassett plated Kiley Goff from second on an RBI double to left center. On the next at-bat, Brannstrom belted a towering three-run homer to dead center to make it 5-3. Becker tacked on another run with a solo shot in the top of the seventh.
Sydney Bates earned the win in relief for Purdue. The righty worked three innings in the circle with four hits and a pair of earned runs against.
Purdue (8-20) – 6, Illinois (18-10) - 4
Winning pitcher: Sydney Bates
Losing pitcher: Tori McQueen (3-4)
NOTES
• Illinois leads the all-time series 32-17.
• Purdue won for the first time when trailing after five innings.
• Becker tallied her 14th multi-hit game of the year.
• Brannstrom recorded her fourth and fifth career extra-base hits.
• Bates' win was the 34th of her career.
• Purdue's leadoff hitters were 5-of-7 in the game.
UP NEXT
Purdue will hit the road for a four-game series against Michigan State next weekend, starting Friday at 4 p.m.