March 24, 2010
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermaker softball team scored five run in its final two innings to protect its home field on opening day and down the Miami Redhawks 6-4 on Wednesday.
Junior Suzie Rzegocki (8-11) struck out five batters in the complete-game victory, while reliever Meredith Linch (3-6) was saddled with the loss for MU after allowing three runs in less than a third of an inning in the circle. Linch took over for Jessica Simpson with one out in the fifth and gave up three runs on two hits before exiting the game as Simpson reentered.
Purdue scored its six runs on nine hits and a Redhawk error, while Miami managed four runs on five hits. Freshman Maia Monchek went 3-for-3 at the plate, while six other Boilermakers tallied a hit in the contest.
The Redhawks owned a 1-0 lead just one batter into the game as Daniela Torres sent a leadoff home run over the right center wall. Purdue retired the next three batters in order.
The Boilermakers tied it up in their half of the inning, answering with a run on a hit. Senior Liane Horiuchi was hit by a pitch to start the stanza, then stole second and went to third on a wild pitch, before coming home on a sacrifice fly by sophomore Molly Garst. Freshman Maia Monchek followed with a triple off the right field wall. Senior Jenna Alexander walked and turned the corner toward second trying to draw a throw from the defense. The throw came, but the Redhawk defense caught both Monchek and Alexander away from their bases to prevent further scoring.
Miami loaded the bases with two outs in the third on a fielder's choice, a bunt single and a walk. A Sarah Billstrom single to right drove in two runs, before a grounder to the pitcher capped the inning.
Monchek and Alexander posted singles to start the fourth. A caught foul and a fielder's choice put runners at second and third with two outs. Senior Ashley Barr walk to filled the bases, but Alexander was caught cheating away from third to keep Purdue from capitalizing.
The Purdue offense exploded for four runs on six hits in the fifth to take a 5-3 advantage. Junior Aimee Gingerich led off with a single, but was caught stealing. Freshman Kristen Allen followed with a triple to right center, prompting the MU pitching change. A fielder's choice play intended to keep Allen from scoring allowed Horiuchi to reach base and give Purdue runners at the corners. Horiuchi swiped second, moving two runners into scoring position for Garst, who delivered with a two-run double to left center. Monchek followed with an RBI single to short center field to bring Garst home. Simpson reentered to pitch, but that did not slow the Boilermaker rally. Freshman Ashley Courtney sent a two-out single through the left side and went to second as the Redhawks threw home to keep Monchek from scoring. Barr came to the plate with the bases juiced, thanks to a walk that put freshman Erika Petruzzi aboard, and singled up the middle. Monchek scored on the hit, but Courtney was called out in a close play at the plate to end the inning.
The Redhawks got one run back in the sixth on a one-out home run by Billstrom. The Boilermakers countered with an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth. Allen drew a leadoff walk. Garst sent a two-out ball back to the pitcher, who overthrew first, allowing Allen to score and the speedy Garst to advance to third on the miscue. A pair of walks loaded the bases for Purdue, but a strikeout kept the team from adding to its advantage.
Miami went down in order in the seventh to clinch the Purdue win.
The Boilermakers (12-16) return to action at 2 p.m. ET Saturday, when they open conference play on the road against the Northwestern Wildcats. The game will be broadcast live on purduesports.com and WSHY 1410 AM in Lafayette. Live statistics also will be provided via the GameTracker feature on purduesports.com.