WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue softball split the final day at UNLV, suffering its first loss of the season, falling 5–4 to Illinois-Chicago before coming back with a huge 15-1 win over host UNLV.
BOILER BITS (Game 1 vs UIC)
Offensive Highlights
- Julia Gossett: 1-for-3, HR, 2 RBI, R
- Khloe Banks: 2-for-4
- Moriah Polar: 1-for-3, 2 R, BB, SB
- Haley Painter: 1-for-4, 2B, RBI
Pitching Breakdown
- Malone Moore: 3.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, 2 K, 17 BF
- Brooke Perez: 1.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 K, 6 BF
- Brianna Fontenot: (L, 1-1) 1.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 K, 7 BF
Purdue opened the scoring early, striking in the top of the first inning. Moriah Polar singled and stole second before Haley Painter drove her in with an RBI double to left-center, giving the Boilermakers a 1–0 lead.
The Boilermakers added to their advantage in the third inning with a three-run inning. Polar drew a walk to start the rally, and after an RBI groundout from Gabriela Sosa, Julia Gossett delivered a two-run home run to deep center field, her first of the season, to extend Purdue’s lead to 4–0.
Illinois-Chicago responded in the bottom of the fourth, scoring three runs to cut into the deficit. The Flames added a solo home run in the fifth inning to make it a one-run game, 4–3.
Purdue had opportunities to add insurance runs but was unable to capitalize, leaving six runners on base. Illinois-Chicago tied the game in the seventh before delivering a walk-off RBI single to seal the 5–4 result.
Boiler Bits (Game 2 vs UNLV)
Offensive Highlights
- Bella Douglas: 2-for-3, 3 R, 7 RBI, 2B, HR
- Moriah Polar: 3-for-4, 3 R
- Khloe Banks: 2-for-3, 3 R, BB, SB
- Ansley Armstrong: 1-for-1, HR, 2 RBI
- Maura Condon: 1-for-3, 2 RBI
Pitching Breakdown
- Brianna Fontenot: (W, 2-1), 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, BB, K
- Julia Gossett: 1.0 IP, 0 H, 0 R, BB, 3 K
Purdue wasted no time setting the tone, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. Bella Douglas opened the scoring with an RBI double before Delaney Reefe drove in another on a fielder’s choice. Maura Condon followed with a two-run single to cap the inning and give the Boilermakers an early 4–0 lead.
The offense continued to roll in the second inning. After singles from Gossett and Moriah Polar, Douglas delivered the biggest swing of the day, launching a grand slam to center field to push Purdue’s advantage to 8–0.
After a scoreless third inning, Purdue added one run in the fourth as Banks singled, stole second, and came around to score on an RBI groundout from Douglas.
The Boilermakers broke the game open in the fifth inning with a six-run frame. Ansley Armstrong crushed a two-run homer to left field in her pinch-hit appearance, the first hit of her career, while Purdue capitalized on defensive miscues and wild pitches to plate four additional runs and extend the lead to 15–1.
UNLV scored its lone run in the bottom of the fourth, but Purdue’s pitching staff remained in control throughout. Brianna Fontenot earned the win, allowing just two hits over four innings, before Gossett struck out three in a perfect fifth to close out the run-rule victory.
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