Feb. 19, 2010
HOUSTON - The Boilermaker softball team battled No. 20 Texas and nearly pulled off the upset Friday afternoon, falling 6-5 with the potential go-ahead run on base.
Texas scored six runs on seven hits, while Purdue scored five runs on seven hits and two UT errors. Freshman Erika Petruzzi went 2-for-3, while senior Liz Allum posted her first career hit in the game with a seventh-inning home run.
Kim Bruins (3-0) picked up the win for the Longhorns, while rookie Julia Rice (1-1) was saddled with the loss for Purdue. Blair Luna earned the save for UT, while Petruzzi struck out two in four and two thirds innings of relief for the Boilermakers.
"It was a great effort in the seventh inning," head coach Kim Maher said. "We had some clutch hits in clutch at-bats, unfortunately, we left too many runners in scoring position earlier in game. I am hoping the team can gain some momentum from this game and carry it into tomorrow."
Petruzzi tallied the first hit of the game with a two-out single in the first. Senior Jenna Alexander drew a walk, pushing her to second, but a liner to the pitcher kept Purdue off the scoreboard.
UT scored three runs on three hits in the second. A pair of walks and a single filled the bases for pitcher Kim Bruins, who helped her own cause with a single off the center field wall, driving in two runs. The hit prompted a Purdue pitching change as Petruzzi took over in the circle. A sacrifice fly accounted for the third score.
Petruzzi drew a two-out walk in the third. Alexander followed with a double to left center, but a pop up to the shortstop stranded both.
The Boilermakers broke onto the scoreboard in the fourth on a hit and an error. Senior Ashley Barr led off the inning with a double through the left side. Freshman Kristen Allen then reached on a fielding error by the second baseman, which brought Barr in to score. Allen stole second and went to third on a fly ball, but a liner to the pitcher kept Purdue from adding to its tally.
The Longhorns countered with two runs in the fourth on a Raygan Feight home run and added a run on two hits in the fifth. A single and a walk put two aboard in the latter inning, setting the table for a Taylor Hoagland RBI single to center.
After two quiet innings, the Boilermaker bats came alive in the seventh, racking up four runs on four hits and putting the game-winning run aboard before running out of steam. Senior Liz Allum started the rally with a towering solo home run that sailed over the center field wall for her first career hit. Sophomore Molly Garst added a one-out single to short, then stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Petruzzi picked up the RBI with a single to left center. Alexander walked putting runners at first and second for junior Shelby Krammer. Krammer delivered with a double up the right field line, plating both. The hit prompted a UT pitching change as Luna took over in the circle and walked Barr, the first batter she faced, to put the potential game-winner aboard. A strikeout, however, prevented the upset.
The Boilermakers (1-6) are back in action at 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. ET when they take on UTSA and Houston.