March 18, 2010
FULLERTON, Calif. - The Boilermakers put on a hitting clinic in a 10-4 drubbing of Cal State Fullerton Wednesday night, racking up 14 hits, including a pair of three-hit efforts.
Purdue scored its 10 runs on 14 hits and three Fullerton errors, while the Titans managed four runs on 10 hits and two Boilermaker miscues. Senior Ashley Barr went 4-for-4 at the plate to lead the Purdue offensive attack, while sophomore Molly Garst added three hits. Freshman Maia Monchek and senior Liz Allum also posted multi-hit days.
Freshman Erika Petruzzi (3-2) picked up the win, striking out one in four innings of relief, while Ari Cervantes (1-8) was saddled with the loss for Fullerton. Junior Suzie Rzegocki struck out three batters and allowed just one run before exiting the game after three innings of work.
The Boilermakers had runners at the corners in the first, but could not convert them into tallies on the scoreboard. Garst sent a one-out single into left then stole second and went to third on a grounder, before being joined by senior Jenna Alexander who walked. A grounder to third stranded both runners.
A pair of Boilermaker fielding miscues put Titans aboard in the bottom of the inning, but two strikeouts and a grounder to second base cleaned up the inning.
Barr doubled up the right line in the second and went to third on a caught foul ball, but could not make it home.
Fullerton put two runners in scoring position in the second, but the Boilermaker defense again denied any runs. A pair of singles and a steal accounted for the runners, which remained on base at inning's end.
Purdue snapped the scoreless tie with a pair of hits and a sacrifice fly in the third. Senior Liane Horiuchi led off with a triple to the right center fence. Garst brought her home with a single to left, then swiped second and third to set up the sacrifice fly by Petruzzi.
The Titans got one run back with two hits in the bottom of the stanza. A Nicole Johnson triple to right set up an RBI opportunity for Torrie Anderson, who delivered with a single up the middle.
The back-and-forth battle continued in the fourth as the Boilermakers put up a run on three hits. Monchek walked to start the inning and went to second on a Barr single to short. Allum sent a single up the middle to score Monchek. Barr was out at third on the play, while Allum advanced to second. Horiuchi was hit by a pitch and Garst singled to left to fill the bases, but a grounder to second base prevented the Boilermakers from capitalizing further.
For its part, Fullerton struck back with a run on two hits in the bottom of the inning. Cervantes led off with a single up the left field line and was sacrificed to second. A two-out walk followed, before Adriana Martinez plated the run with a bouncing single up the middle.
The Boilermakers added two runs on four hits to start the fifth inning, prompting a Fullerton pitching change. Senior Jenna Alexander singled to start the stanza. Pinch runner Kayla Yates scored the following play as freshman Ashley Courtney doubled to right center. A fielding error allowed her to go to third on the play. Monchek singled to right to drive her home, then Barr reached on a bunt single prompting the pitching switch. Katey Laban took over in the circle and prompted a fielder's choice play at third which put junior Shelby Krammer on and accounted for the inning's first out. Barr and Krammer pulled off a double steal after which Barr scored as the catcher's throw sailed into left field. Allum singled to right, pushing Krammer to third, but the right fielder misplayed the ball, allowing Krammer to score. A strikeout and grounder finally ended the inning.
The Purdue offense picked up where it left off in the sixth, tacking on another run on two hits. Alexander drew a one-out walk to open the door. A sacrifice and a Monchek single advanced her to third, before a Barr single up the middle brought her home.
The seventh inning saw the Boilermakers wrap up their scoring with two runs on no hits. Allum was hit by a pitch to start the inning. Pinch runner Aimee Gingerich was sacrifice to second. Garst walked, then a wild pitch moved the pair into scoring position. Alexander reached on a two-out walk to fill the bases. Courtney picked an RBI with a walk. A wild pitch moved the runners around, bringing Garst in to score, before a pop up brought Fullerton to the plate one final time.
The Titans did not go down without a fight, managing two runs on three hits in the final stanza. Johnson hit a one-out triple to center field and scored on a Trina Harrison single to second base. A passed ball moved Harrison into scoring position, before a walk put another runner on. Natalie DeLeese cut the margin to six with a double to left center. A liner to second base finally capped the game.
Purdue (10-11) returns to action at 9 p.m. ET Thursday when it takes on UNLV and Utah in a pair of games.