WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue picked up two wins on day two in Vegas with a 9–3 victory over California Baptist and a 9-1 win over UIC.
Three different Boilermakers earned their first-career hits with Bella Douglas and Gabriela Sosa homering, and Kate Sarago sending a triple to the fence.
BOILER BITS (Game 1 vs Cal Baptist)
Offensive Highlights
- Khloe Banks: 3-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, 2B, 3B
- Moriah Polar: 3-for-4, 2 R, 3 RBI, HR
- Bella Douglas: 3-for-4, 2 R, 2 RBI, HR
Pitching Breakdown
- Emma Bailey: 2.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 1 K
- Brianna Fontenot: (W, 1–0), 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 6 BB, 3 K
The Boilermakers wasted no time jumping on the board, plating three runs in the bottom of the first inning. After Khloe Banks doubled to lead off the inning, Moriah Polar launched a two-run home run to center field, her first of the season. Douglas followed later in the inning with a solo shot to right, giving Purdue an early 3–1 advantage. The home run of Douglas also marked her first collegiate hit.
Purdue added to its lead in the third inning as Polar singled and eventually scored on an RBI single from Douglas. The Boilermakers continued to manufacture runs in the fourth, using speed and execution to plate two more and extend the lead to 6–1.
The offense stayed aggressive in the fifth inning, scoring three runs on three hits. Maura Condon doubled to left to drive in a run before Banks capped the inning with a two-run triple to right-center, pushing Purdue’s lead to 9–2.
Brianna Fontenot came on in relief in the third and worked five steady innings to earn the win, allowing just two runs while striking out three and inducing multiple key double plays.
Purdue finished the game with 11 hits and went 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position, while also turning three double plays defensively.
BOILER BITS (Game 2 vs UIC)
Offensive Highlights
- Bella Douglas: 2-for-3, R, 2 RBI, HR
- Gabriela Sosa: 1-for-2, R, RBI, HR
- Alivia Meeks: 2-for-3
- Pitching Breakdown
- Brooke Perez: 4.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 BB, 4 K
The Boilers got on the board first after Douglas drove in Polar on an RBI double to the left center gap. In the bottom of the inning, Brooke Perez made her debut on the mound for the Boilers, earning back-to-back strikeouts to end the first.
After a quiet second inning, the Boilers added two more runs to the lead in the top of the third on another double from Douglas, and a sacrifice fly from Haley Painter. The Boilers broke the game open in the top of the fourth, plating five runs on three hits.
Sosa continued the momentum with a solo home run to center field, her first hit as a Division I athlete. After a single and back-to-back walks Ashlynn Campbell scored on a wild pitch. Painter then added her second sacrifice fly of the day, scoring Khloe Banks. Kate Sarago put a stamp on the inning adding her first-career hit, a two-RBI triple to bring the score to 9-0.
UIC added one run in the bottom of the fourth but the Boilers earned it back in the fifth, plating the eighth run which secured the mercy-rule victory after three quick outs in the bottom of the fifth.
Perez earned her first victory on the mound as a Boiler along with her battery mate, Sosa.
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