March 19, 2010
FULLERTON, Calif. - The Boilermaker offense managed four runs on 11 hits, but it was not enough to lift the team over the UNLV Rebels Thursday night. UNLV won the game 9-4.
The Rebels scored their nine runs on 11 hits, while Purdue posted four runs on 11 hits, including a 3-for-4 effort by senior Jenna Alexander and two-hit performances from sophomore Molly Garst, freshman Erika Petruzzi and senior Ashley Barr.
Jessica O'Connor struck out nine in the win for UNLV, while freshman Julia Rice (1-2) was saddled with the loss for Purdue after tossing the opening two and two thirds innings. Petruzzi struck out two in three and a third innings of relief work.
The Boilermakers jumped on the scoreboard quickly, with three runs on five hits in the opening stanza. Garst doubled to left center and Petruzzi followed with a single through the right side and a stolen base to set up Alexander's three run home run to left center. Freshman Maia Monchek added a two-out double and Barr laced a single through the left side, but a strikeout kept Purdue from adding to its 3-0 advantage.
The Rebels answered with a run on two hits in the bottom of the inning. Marissa Nichols hit a leadoff single, stole second and went to third on a ground out, before scoring on an Ashli Holland single.
Alexander added a third-inning single and was sacrificed to second, but the Boilermakers couldn't bring her in.
UNLV took the lead with five runs on four hits in the third. A double and two walks filled the bases with two outs. A Laura Briones double scored two runs. An Alyssia De La Torre triple added two more. A Tayler Aleman single up the middle made it 6-3 before a pop up wrapped up the stanza.
A fielder's choice and a single gave the Rebels runners at the corners in the fifth. A pinch hit double by Chey Farley brought in both. A double by Nichols made it 9-3.
Freshman Ashley Courtney bounced a double off the left field wall to start the sixth, then scored as a fielding error put Monchek aboard the following play. Senior Ashley Barr added a bunt single, but was picked off at first base after a pair of strikeouts.
After sitting the Rebels down in order in the sixth, Petruzzi and Alexander added a pair of two-out singles in the seventh, but a strikeout prevented a comeback.
The Boilermakers (10-12) return to action in 20 minutes when they take on the Utah Utes to close out Day 2 of the Judi Garman Classic.