WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind.—In the Big Ten season opener, the Purdue softball team (18-15, 1-0) took down Illinois (13-12, 0-1) 5-3 inside Bittinger Stadium. The victory was backed by pitcher Alex Echazarreta's five strikeouts, including the game-clinching third strikeout in the top of the seventh with the bases loaded.
Two Boilermaker seniors scored home runs in the first inning with shortstop Rachel Becker notching hers on the first pitch and Echazarreta following three batters later.
The game-winner for Purdue came in the third inning with two outs, thanks to a double by Rylee Platusic to score Becker from third. Becker led the team with two runs, while Platusic totaled three RBI, one shy of her season-best.
On the day, Purdue and Illinois were even in hits, 7-7 and errors, 1-1.
In the circle, Echazarreta tossed a complete game, with no runs allowed until the top of the seventh, when Illinois' last-ditch effort led to three hits and three runs in its final at-bat. In total, the righty got the Boilermakers out of jams twice with the bases loaded. In the second, the Fighting Illini loaded the bases with just one out, however Echazarreta tossed back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning before tossing the game-clinching strikeout in the top of the seventh.
Two games remain in the series vs. Illinois. The Boilermakers and Fighting Illini are slated to play tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET before closing out the series Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Both games are available to stream on B1G+.
Two Boilermaker seniors scored home runs in the first inning with shortstop Rachel Becker notching hers on the first pitch and Echazarreta following three batters later.
The game-winner for Purdue came in the third inning with two outs, thanks to a double by Rylee Platusic to score Becker from third. Becker led the team with two runs, while Platusic totaled three RBI, one shy of her season-best.
On the day, Purdue and Illinois were even in hits, 7-7 and errors, 1-1.
In the circle, Echazarreta tossed a complete game, with no runs allowed until the top of the seventh, when Illinois' last-ditch effort led to three hits and three runs in its final at-bat. In total, the righty got the Boilermakers out of jams twice with the bases loaded. In the second, the Fighting Illini loaded the bases with just one out, however Echazarreta tossed back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning before tossing the game-clinching strikeout in the top of the seventh.
Two games remain in the series vs. Illinois. The Boilermakers and Fighting Illini are slated to play tomorrow at 2 p.m. ET before closing out the series Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. Both games are available to stream on B1G+.