Feb. 12, 2010
TEMPE, Ariz. - The Boilermaker softball team suffered a one-run loss in 10 innings to open the 2010 season on Friday. Purdue dropped a 7-6 decision to NCAA competitor San Diego State to start the team's three-day stay at the Kajikawa Classic.
SDSU scored seven runs on 13 hits and two errors, while the Boilermakers managed six runs on 11 hits and two errors. Senior Liane Horiuchi, junior Shelby Krammer, sophomore Molly Garst and freshman Maia Monchek each tallied two hits, while seven players contributed offensively.
Junior Suzie Rzegocki struck out nine batters in the loss, while relief pitcher Samantha Beasley moved to 3-0 on the year with the win. Bailey Micetich threw the first five and two thirds innings for the Aztecs.
Timely hitting and aggressive base running helped the Boilermakers jump out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning. Senior Liane Horiuchi sent a double up the third baseline to start things off, then went to third as sophomore Molly Garst laid down a perfect bunt. The speedy Garst nullified a potential throw and then stole second the following play. Senior Jenna Alexander sent a one-out pitch towards the second baseman, who threw home, but Horiuchi slid under the tag for the game's first run. The catcher threw the ball back to the second baseman to prevent Alexander, who was dancing between the bases, from advancing, but that only opened the door for Garst to come in for the score.
San Diego State got one run back with an RBI single in the second inning. A single up the middle put Eva Sahatdjian on with one out. An illegal pitch advanced her to second, from which she scored on a two-out single to center by Jeniffer Wisneski.
Freshman Jessica Morgan picked up her first collegiate hit with a single to center in the second. Junior Shelby Krammer followed with a single to right. The pair moved into scoring position on a Horiuchi sacrifice bunt, but a fly ball to left wrapped up the stanza.
The Aztecs threatened in the third, putting two runners in scoring position after a hit and an error, but the Boilermakers kept them off the scoreboard.
Rookies Maia Monchek and Kristen Allen each tallied a hit in the third, bookending an Alexander sac bunt. Both moved into scoring position on Allen's hit as the Aztecs threw home to prevent Monchek from scoring, allowing Allen to scamper to second. Junior Suzie Rzegocki stepped to the plate and offered up what looked to be a sacrifice fly to right, but the right fielder dropped the ball. Monchek scored on the play. Rzegocki and Monchek moved to second and third before the play ended, but both were left stranded.
After loading the bases and failing to score in the fourth, SDSU made good on its next opportunity with a three-run home run in the fifth. Sahatdjian supplied the two-out homer after a single and a walk.
After two quiet innings, the Boilermakers struck back on a two-run shot by Horiuchi. The bomb to centerfield scored pinch runner Kayla Yates from first. Yates was running for Krammer, who sent a one-out single up the middle. Garst followed with a sharp double to right, prompting an Aztec pitching change. Samantha Beasley took over in the circle as Bailey Micetich exited the game after five and two third innings of work. Beasley issued a strikeout to escape further damage.
The Aztecs tied it up with an unearned run in the top of the seventh. A double and a fly ball gave SDSU a runner at third with two outs. An error on the first baseman put the next batter aboard and allowed the run. A pop up ended the stanza.
Purdue came up empty in the bottom half of the inning to send the game to an eighth inning and invoke the international tie breaker rule.
Neither team was able to capitalize on the runner placed at second to start each half of the inning in the eighth.
SDSU used a sacrifice bunt to move Brittany Knudsen to third in the ninth inning. In a close play at the plate on a fielder's choice, the umpire called the runner safe, putting the Aztecs on top 6-5. With two on and two outs, a looking strikeout brought Purdue to the plate.
Freshman Erika Petruzzi was placed on second to begin the Boilermaker half of the ninth. Horiuchi laid down a would-be sacrifice bunt to move the runner. The catcher however threw to first and the second baseman covering booted the ball into right field, allowing Petruzzi to score and Horiuchi to end up at second on the play. A pair of strikeouts and a fly ball kept her from coming home, sending the game to a 10th stanza.
A two-out single to center field by Wisneski scored Tanya Holguin from second in the top of the 10th. A looking strikeout capped the inning.
The Boilermakers sacrificed pinch runner Aimee Gingerich to third to begin the team's final offensive stand, but a pair of strikeouts ended the contest.
Purdue (0-1) returns to action at 7:30 p.m. ET when it takes on No. 6 Arizona, in a rematch of last year's Louisville Regional championship game.