WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – In two tough decisions, the Purdue softball team fell to No. 24 Indiana in the final frames of each doubleheader, dropping a 5-8 decision in Game One followed by a 4-5 decision in Game Two. With the result, Purdue falls to 15-18 (0-5 Big Ten) while No. 24 Indiana improves to 25-9 (5-0 Big Ten).
Over the two games, Purdue held the lead or was tied against Indiana for 64% of the innings played, as the team held the lead for five innings and tied Indiana for four frames.
The Boilermakers fought hard in front of a packed Bittinger Stadium which saw over 800 fans in attendance, recording a pair of home runs in Game Two as the team came within sight of a comeback victory.
Game 1: Purdue 5, Indiana 8
The Boilermakers got off to a hot start, taking the lead in the first inning, and holding it through the third inning with a 5-1 advantage, but the Hoosiers turned the corner in the fourth inning with five runs, a momentum Purdue could not overcome.
In the game, Purdue recorded eight hits, leaving five runners stranded.
Sophomore infielder Olivia McFadden guided the Boilermakers with a team-leading one run, two hits, a double and 2 RBI. Meanwhile, freshman designated player Bella Bacon also posted a multi-hit game with one run on two hits and an RBI. McFadden went 2-for-4 from the plate while Bacon went 2-for-3.
Three Boilermakers earned doubles: McFadden, Jade Moy and Tyrina Jones.
While four pitchers saw time in the game, Kendall Klochack (1-2) received the loss after allowing three runs on three hits. The pitching staff saw four strikeouts on the day, led by starter Alexa Pinarski's two strikeouts over the first three innings.
Game 2: Purdue 4, Indiana 5
Highlighting the game was a pair of home runs with a 2RBI homer by Boise State transfer catcher Hailey Hayes and a seventh-inning dinger by Alex Echazarreta. Hayes' homer was the first as a Boilermaker, while Echazarreta's came on her only at-bat of the game.
Hayes' home run in the bottom of the third gave Purdue the lead after Indiana's hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded gave the Hoosiers the 1-0 lead in the first inning. Echazarreta entered in the seventh inning with two outs on the board. The pinch hitter's home run put the Boilermakers' within one of tying the game, but could not find the equalizing run before the third out was recorded.
Madi Elish (4-1) booked the loss after tossing the final 1.1 innings. The Boilermaker sent two batters back to the dugout and allowed one walk over her eight batters faced. Alexa Pinarski saw the most time in the game with 5.1 innings pitched, two strikeouts and three hits allowed in 27 batters faced.
Purdue will head to the east coast this weekend for a three-game series at Rutgers, which begins Friday at 3 p.m. ET on B1G+.
Over the two games, Purdue held the lead or was tied against Indiana for 64% of the innings played, as the team held the lead for five innings and tied Indiana for four frames.
The Boilermakers fought hard in front of a packed Bittinger Stadium which saw over 800 fans in attendance, recording a pair of home runs in Game Two as the team came within sight of a comeback victory.
Game 1: Purdue 5, Indiana 8
The Boilermakers got off to a hot start, taking the lead in the first inning, and holding it through the third inning with a 5-1 advantage, but the Hoosiers turned the corner in the fourth inning with five runs, a momentum Purdue could not overcome.
In the game, Purdue recorded eight hits, leaving five runners stranded.
Sophomore infielder Olivia McFadden guided the Boilermakers with a team-leading one run, two hits, a double and 2 RBI. Meanwhile, freshman designated player Bella Bacon also posted a multi-hit game with one run on two hits and an RBI. McFadden went 2-for-4 from the plate while Bacon went 2-for-3.
Three Boilermakers earned doubles: McFadden, Jade Moy and Tyrina Jones.
While four pitchers saw time in the game, Kendall Klochack (1-2) received the loss after allowing three runs on three hits. The pitching staff saw four strikeouts on the day, led by starter Alexa Pinarski's two strikeouts over the first three innings.
Game 2: Purdue 4, Indiana 5
Highlighting the game was a pair of home runs with a 2RBI homer by Boise State transfer catcher Hailey Hayes and a seventh-inning dinger by Alex Echazarreta. Hayes' homer was the first as a Boilermaker, while Echazarreta's came on her only at-bat of the game.
Hayes' home run in the bottom of the third gave Purdue the lead after Indiana's hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded gave the Hoosiers the 1-0 lead in the first inning. Echazarreta entered in the seventh inning with two outs on the board. The pinch hitter's home run put the Boilermakers' within one of tying the game, but could not find the equalizing run before the third out was recorded.
Madi Elish (4-1) booked the loss after tossing the final 1.1 innings. The Boilermaker sent two batters back to the dugout and allowed one walk over her eight batters faced. Alexa Pinarski saw the most time in the game with 5.1 innings pitched, two strikeouts and three hits allowed in 27 batters faced.
Purdue will head to the east coast this weekend for a three-game series at Rutgers, which begins Friday at 3 p.m. ET on B1G+.