Feb. 14, 2010
TEMPE, Ariz. - The Boilermaker softball team broke into the win column with an offensive explosion against North Dakota State Sunday morning to wrap up its stay at the Kajikawa Classic.
Purdue put up five runs on seven hits and an error, including three home runs, while allowing the Bison three runs on four hits. Freshman Erika Petruzzi tied the Boilermaker record for home runs in a game, lifting two in the contest as part of her perfect 2-for-2 day at the plate. Senior Liane Horiuchi also chipped in a pair of hits.
Freshman Julia Rice struck out three in five and third innings of work en route to the win, while junior Suzie Rzegocki picked up the save, striking out two in the final inning and two thirds. Randi Parks (2-1) was saddled with the loss for NDSU after giving up five runs in the opening three stanzas.
Petruzzi put Purdue on the board with a two-run home run to right center in the first inning. The long ball brought home Horiuchi, who was on third after a leadoff single to center field and a pair of sacrifices.
The Boilermakers added three runs on five hits in the third, including two home runs. Horiuchi led off the inning with a single to left, then stole second. Sophomore Molly Garst dropped a single into shallow left field, then the left fielder over ran the ball allowing Horiuchi to score from third. The fielder recovered and Garst was tagged out sliding into second on the play. Petruzzi brought the wood again with two outs, sending a solo shot over the left field wall, to tie for the Purdue single-game home run mark with two in the contest. The next batter, junior Shelby Krammer, supplied the Boilermakers' third round tripper of the game with a solo shot just inside the left field foul pole. Senior Jenna Alexander added a single to right before the inning ended with a grounder to the pitcher.
Rice retired 10 straight, before the Bison snapped her no-hit bid with a pair of fourth-inning singles. A strikeout, however, stranded the runners at the corners.
NDSU cracked the shutout with a Maryssa McKenzie one-out home run in the fifth that bounced off the top of the right field wall.
The Bison cut the lead to two on a Melissa Chmielewski two-run homer in the sixth. The long ball plated Elisa Victa, who had drawn a one-out walk. Rzegocki took over in the circle following the hit and retired the next two batters via strikeout and ground out to escape the inning.
Rzegocki took NDSU down in order in the seventh with a strikeout, pop up and ground out to wrap up the save and the Boilermakers' first win of the season.
The Boilermakers (1-4) return to action on Friday, when they take on Iowa State at the Marriott Houston Classic.