NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Purdue Softball erupted for 18 runs on 30 hits to sweep the day against Southern Illinois and Lipscomb on Friday in Nashville, Tenn.
BOILER BITS (Game 1 vs Southern Illinois)
Offensive Highlights
- Khloe Banks: 5-for-5, 4 R, 2 RBI, 3B, SB
- Bella Douglas: 3-for-5, 2 R, 4 RBI
- Haley Painter: 1-for-5, HR, 4 RBI
- Moriah Polar: 3-for-5, R, RBI
- Ashlynn Campbell: 4-for-4, 3 R
Pitching Breakdown - Brianna Fontenot: 3.0 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 1 ER, BB, 3 K
- Julia Gossett: (W, 3–3), 4.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 8 K
Purdue wasted no time jumping on the scoreboard in the top of the first inning. Khloe Banks singled to open the game and advanced to third following a passed ball and a Southern Illinois error. Haley Painter followed two batters later, launching a three-run home run to give the Boilermakers an early 3–0 lead.
Southern Illinois chipped away in the second inning with an unearned run, then added another in the fourth to cut the deficit to 3–2. Purdue responded immediately in the fifth, breaking the game open with a four-run frame.
Ashlynn Campbell sparked the rally with a leadoff single before Banks ripped an RBI triple to right field. Moriah Polar followed with an RBI single, and Bella Douglas added another run with a base hit to center. Douglas then stole home during a double steal to extend the lead to 6–2.
The Boilermakers continued to pile on in the sixth inning. With the bases loaded, Douglas drove in a run with a single to left, followed by an RBI single from Painter to push the advantage to 8–2.
Purdue put the game away in the seventh with three more runs. Banks delivered an RBI single before Douglas capped the scoring with a two-run single to center, her fourth RBI of the afternoon.
In the circle, Julia Gossett was dominant in relief, retiring all but one batter she faced and striking out eight over four hitless innings to earn the win.
Purdue finished the game with 19 hits, a new single-game record.
BOILER BITS (Game 2 at Lipscomb)
Offensive Highlights
- Moriah Polar: 3-for-4, RBI, SB
- Haley Painter: 2-for-4, RBI
- Maura Condon: 1-for-3, 2 R, HR, 2 RBI
- Delaney Reefe: 2-for-2, 2 R, RBI, BB
- Ashlynn Campbell: 1-for-2, RBI
Pitching Breakdown
- Brooke Perez: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, BB
- Julia Gossett: (W, 4–3), 5.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 6 K
Lipscomb scored first in the bottom of the opening inning on a sac-fly, but Purdue responded immediately. In the second, Maura Condon reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second on a throwing error before Delaney Reefe singled to center to drive her in and tie the game.
Purdue took the lead in the third inning. Banks singled and moved into scoring position before Painter lined an RBI single to right field, giving the Boilermakers a 2–1 advantage.
The Boilermakers added to the lead in the fourth. Condon launched a solo home run to right-center, her first of the year, to make it 3–1, before Polar delivered an RBI infield single to score Reefe and extend the margin to three.
Purdue continued to manufacture runs in the fifth. After Painter doubled to center, Condon lifted a sac-fly to left to plate the run. Campbell then singled to center to score Reefe and push the lead to 6–1.
From there, Gossett took control in the circle. The junior retired all but one batter she faced over five hitless innings in relief, striking out six to close out the win.
Purdue finished with 11 hits, scored in four different innings, and held Lipscomb hitless after the second inning.
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