Feb. 26, 2010
LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Boilermaker softball team battled another Top 20 opponent to the final out, but again fell a run short, as No. 15 Louisville edged Purdue 6-5 on Friday afternoon.
The Cardinals scored six runs on six hits and two Purdue miscues, while the Boilermakers managed five runs on nine hits and three UofL errors. Senior Jenna Alexander led the Purdue offense with a 3-for-4 outing including a home run and two RBI.
McCutcheon alumna Tori Collins (3-1) struck out nine in the win for Louisville, while junior Suzie Rzegocki (1-5) issued three Ks in the complete game effort for Purdue.
Louisville scored first putting up three runs on two hits and an error in the bottom of the first. A two-base throwing error put UofL's leadoff batter on base. Melissa Roth brought in the run with a double to right center. A Vanessa James single and stolen base gave Louisville two runners in scoring position. An illegal pitch was called allowing the runners to advance a free base, scoring a run. A sacrifice fly accounted for the third run of the inning.
The Boilermakers got one run back in the third inning on a trio of hits. Rzegocki started the stanza with a single to right and moved to third on freshman Kristen Allen's double off the center field wall, but was called out at the plate trying to score on the base hit. A fly ball bumped Allen over to third, from which she scored on a wild pitch. Sophomore Molly Garst also tallied a single and stolen base in the inning, but was left stranded.
Louisville made it 4-1, combining a pair of doubles for a score in the fourth. The Cardinals tacked on two more runs on a hit in the fifth. A pair of walks and a hit batsman loaded the bases with two outs. A Brittany York single to right center brought in both runs.
Alexander posted a leadoff single in the fourth, but was unable to score. The Boilermakers stranded a runner at third in the fifth inning after senior Liane Horiuchi reached on a three-base error by the shortstop.
Alexander chipped away at the deficit with a towering solo home run in the sixth. An error gave Purdue another base runner, but the team was unable to add another run.
Purdue nearly pulled off the comeback with three runs on three hits in the seventh, before a double play cut the rally short. Rzegocki and Allen drew walks to start the inning, then Horiuchi lasered a single through the left side to fill the bases. Rookie Maia Monchek doubled off the right field wall to bring in two and push Horiuchi to third. Alexander made it a one-run game with a single that dropped into shallow right center. The next batter grounded into a double play, however, stranding the tying run and ended the contest.
The Boilermakers return to action after a short break when they take on the Saint Louis Billikens at 4:45 p.m. ET.