TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Purdue softball was held to one hit in an 8–0 loss to #10 Alabama, before coming back with an 8-7 win over Georgia Southern to split the day.
BOILER BITS (Game 1 at #10 Alabama)
Offensive Highlights
- Kendyl Rainey: 1-for-2
Pitching Breakdown
- Julia Gossett: (L, 2–1), 4.0 IP, 6 H, 8 R, 7 ER, 4 BB, 6 K
Alabama jumped out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning, scoring two runs after a pair of walks and a Purdue error extended the frame. The Crimson Tide added another run in the second to make it 3–0.
Purdue had its best scoring opportunity in the top of the fourth inning. Khloe Banks reached on a fielding error on a bunt, before Moriah Polar laid down a sacrifice bunt to move the runner. Gossett followed with a walk and a stolen base to put two runners in scoring position. However, Alabama escaped the jam with a flyout to end the inning.
The game broke open in the bottom of the fourth as Alabama plated five runs on four hits, including a two-run single and a two-run home run, extending the lead to 8–0.
Purdue managed just one hit in the contest, a single up the middle by Kendyl Rainey in the fifth inning to break up the no-hitter while also earning her first-career hit.
Gossett struck out six in the circle, working through traffic against one of the nation’s top offenses.
BOILER BITS (Game 2 vs Georgia Southern)
Offensive Highlights
- Moriah Polar: 3-for-4, R, RBI, 2 SB
- Anna Moore: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, R
- Julia Gossett: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, R
- Haley Painter: 1-for-4, 2 R, RBI, SB
- Bella Douglas: 2-for-4, R
Pitching Breakdown
- Brianna Fontenot: (W, 3–2), 5.0 IP, 5 H, 4 R, 4 ER, 2 BB, 2 K
- Brooke Perez: 1.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, K
- Julia Gossett: (S, 1), 0.1 IP, 1 H, 0 R, K
Purdue wasted no time setting the tone, jumping out to a 3–0 lead in the bottom of the first inning. After Polar singled and stole second, Haley Painter drove her in with an RBI single. Two batters later, Gossett crushed a two-run home run to left center to cap the inning.
The Boilermakers added to the lead in the second when Ashlynn Campbell singled and came around to score on Polar’s second RBI single of the game. Purdue continued to apply pressure in the third, as Anna Moore launched a two-run home run to right-center to push the advantage to 6–1.
Georgia Southern chipped away in the fifth inning, scoring three runs to cut the margin to two. Purdue responded in the bottom of the sixth with two critical insurance runs. In the sixth, a passed ball allowed one run to score before Haley Waggoner delivered an RBI single to make it 8–4.
The Eagles mounted one final rally in the seventh, highlighted by a three-run home run, but Gossett entered with two outs and struck out the final batter to seal the win and earn her first save of the season.
The win moves the Boilermakers to 6–3 on the season.
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