WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – Purdue (32-18, 9-12 Big Ten) fell 1-0 in a pitcher’s duel to the Northwestern (27-19, 14-7 Big Ten) Wildcats on Sunday afternoon at Bittinger Stadium.
Despite both teams having three hits on the afternoon, it was a seventh-inning sacrifice fly that sealed the sweep. Two of the three games this weekend were decided by a seventh-inning Northwestern rally.
BOILER BITS
Offensive Highlights
- Moriah Polar: 1-for-4, R
- Bella Douglas: 1-for-3, 2B
- Maura Condon: 1-for-2
Pitching Breakdown
Julia Gossett: 7.0 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K, 25 BF
The Wildcats and Boilers stayed scoreless six innings, with a combined 16 strikeouts in the game between the two aces.
The Boilers threatened in the second, putting two runners in scoring position, on a hit by pitch and double from Bella Douglas, but the Wildcats worked out of the jam.
Julia Gossett continued her efficiency on the mound, mowing down all fifteen batters she faced through the first five innings.
In the bottom of the fifth, Purdue loaded the bases with two down in the inning, but after a review on a close fielder’s choice at second, Northwestern once again got out of the jam.
Northwestern earned its first hit of the game in the top of the sixth. The pinch hitter for the Wildcats broke up the perfect game for Gossett, who hadn’t let a batter on base through the first 15.
The Wildcats broke through in top of the seventh on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly, and completed the sweep with a groundout and a pair of strikeouts in the bottom of the seventh.
Purdue will head to Iowa for is final series of the season next weekend with hopes to clinch a spot in the Big Ten tournament.
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