March 21, 2010
FULLERTON, Calif. - A seventh-inning rally snagged the upset win from the grasps of the Boilermaker softball team as No. 7 Arizona State topped Purdue 6-4 to begin the final day of action at the Judi Garman Classic.
The Sun Devils scored six runs on 11 hits, while Purdue managed four runs on seven hits and an error. Freshman Ashley Courtney and senior Ashley Barr each tallied two hits for the Boilermakers.
Sam Parlich (5-1) picked up the win for ASU in relief and Hillary Bach earned a save. Starter Megan Elliott allowed four runs in five and a third innings. Junior Suzie Rzegocki struck out two in the complete game effort for Purdue.
ASU scored a run on two hits and stranded three runners in the opening stanza. A pair of walks and a single up the middle filled the bases. Caylyn Carlson hit a sharp single to second base to drive in the run. A fielder's choice play at the plate and a grounder to third base prevented further damage.
Sophomore Molly Garst drew a one-out walk and stole second, but a pair of foul fly balls left her stranded.
Senior Liane Horiuchi picked up a two-out free pass and swiped second in the third inning, before a pop up wrapped up the stanza.
The Sun Devils stranded two runners in the fifth after a hit, a walk and a fielder's choice.
The Boilermakers tallied their first hit as senior Ashley Barr singled to left to lead off the fifth. A pair of fielder's choice plays at second base and a pop up kept the team off the scoreboard.
Arizona State combined three hits for a pair of runs in the sixth. A single by Carlson and a double by Katie Crabb set up a Talor Haro two-out, two run double to right center.
Purdue broke the game open with four runs on four hits and an error in the sixth. Garst started the rally with a single up the middle. A sacrifice, a walk and a single pushed her to third, but a fielder's choice play at the plate kept her from scoring. With the bases juiced, Barr singled through the right side, bringing pinch runner Kayla Yates home. Junior Aimee Gingerich followed with a single to left, driving in Courtney, who reached on a single. The hit barrage caused an ASU pitching switch as Parlich entered the game for Elliott. A fielding error by the third baseman allowed two more runs to score. A grounder to the shortstop capped the inning.
ASU snuck away with the win after plating three runs on four hits in the seventh. A fielder's choice and a single put two on for Crabb, who hit an RBI single to left and went to second on the throw home. With runners at second and third, Ashley Muenz singled through the right side to plate another run. A two-out single to right by Haro put Arizona State up 6-4, but the Boilermakers caught the second runner trying to score to end the inning. After another pitching switch for ASU, Alexander sent a two-out single through the left side. Courtney followed with a single to left, but a strikeout stranded both to end the game.
The Boilermakers wrap up their stay in California with a 4:30 p.m. ET contest with the defending national champion #1 Washington Huskies.