March 31, 2010
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A pair of one-hit shutouts spelled a doubleheader sweep for the Purdue softball team as it faced off against instate foe IUPUI Wednesday afternoon. The Boilermakers posted victories of 2-0 and 6-0 to move to 17-0 all-time against the Jaguars.
Junior Suzie Rzegocki struck out 10 batters en route to both wins, while freshman Erika Petruzzi picked up a save in the night cap. The Boilermaker hurlers held the Jaguar batters without a hit through five innings in both games. Offensively, four different Boilermakers posted multi-hit efforts in the contests, while rookie Kristen Allen posted her first career home run with a solo shot in Game 2.
Game 1 - Purdue 2, IUPUI 0
Junior Suzie Rzegocki tossed a one-hitter as Purdue topped IUPUI 2-0 in Game 1 of Wednesday's softball doubleheader.
Rzegocki (9-13) struck out seven batters in the complete-game victory, in which only a sixth-inning bunt single kept her from the no-no. Samantha Bumbaugh (0-9) was saddled with the victory for the Jaguars.
The Boilermakers scored their two runs on six hits and two IUPUI miscues, while the Jaguars managed one hit and failed to capitalize on a pair of Purdue errors. Sophomore Molly Garst and freshman Maia Monchek each tallied two hits and an RBI in the contest.
A first-inning walk gave IUPUI its first base runner, but a fielder's choice, a strikeout and a runner caught stealing nullified the offensive chance. Purdue put a runner on second in its half of the first as Monchek singled up the middle and stole second, but the team was unable to bring her home.
The Boilermakers threatened with runners at second and third in the second stanza, but were unable to break onto the scoreboard. Freshman Ashley Courtney drew a leadoff walk, was sacrificed to second and stole third, before being joined on base by senior Ashley Barr, who walked and stole second. A strikeout stranded both runners.
A Garst single through the right side put the Boilermakers on the board in the third. Garst drove in senior Liane Horiuchi, who walked, stole second and went to third on a throwing error by the catcher. The Boilermakers had another scoring chance in the inning, as Monchek walked, stole second and advanced to third on a fielding error by the shortstop, but could not add to their lead.
Rzegocki tried to aid her own cause with a leadoff single in the fourth, but was left stranded after advancing to second on a sacrifice.
IUPUI wasted two runners in scoring position in the fifth, failing to capitalize on two Purdue miscues. A fielding error gave the Jaguars a leadoff runner. A botched throw on a fielder's choice play left two on, then a sacrifice pushed the runners into scoring position, but a popup and heads up tag by the shortstop on a fielder's choice play kept the shutout intact.
The Boilermakers combined a pair of hits for a run in the fifth. Garst hit a one-out double into left center and swiped third, setting the table for Monchek, who delivered with a single to shallow centerfield.
The Jaguars ruined the no-hit bid with a two-out bunt single by Kelsey Rupert in the sixth. The next batter was hit by a pitch. A wild pitch moved both runners into scoring position, but Rzegocki issued a looking strikeout to prevent any damage.
Freshman Kristen Allen sent a one-out single up the middle in her first plate appearance of the day, but a strikeout and liner to left field kept the Boilermakers from adding any insurance runs.
IUPUI drew a two-out walk in the seventh, but a fielder's choice play at second base wrapped up the Purdue win.
Game 2 - Purdue 6, IUPUI 0
The Boilermakers rounded up the doubleheader sweep with another stellar pitching effort, tossing a no-hitter through five and two thirds innings. A sixth-inning bunt single again spoiled the no-hit bid.
Rzegocki issued three Ks in four innings of work, before freshman Erika Petruzzi wrapped up the game with just one hit and a strikeout in the final three stanzas for the save. Nicole Natter (2-7) was charged with the loss for IUPUI.
Senior Liane Horiuchi and junior Aimee Gingerich each posted two hits as Purdue managed six runs on seven hits and three IUPUI errors. The Jaguars posted one hit and saw two Boilermaker miscues.
Purdue wasted no time scoring in the game, plating a run on a hit and an error in the bottom of the first. Horiuchi roped a leadoff single up the middle and stole second, before advancing to third on a ground out. A fielder error by the first baseman put freshman Maia Monchek on base as Horiuchi scurried home. Monchek stole second and advanced to third, but remained there at the close of the inning.
The Boilermakers tacked on two more runs on a hit and an error in the second. Rzegocki was pegged in the elbow to start the stanza and stole second. Freshman Kristen Allen reached on an error by the first baseman and went to second on the play, as Rzegocki moved over to third. Gingerich picked up two RBI with a single to left field. Gingerich was sacrificed to second, but a ground out prevented another score.
The Jaguars got their first base runner since a leadoff walk in the second when Purdue committed a fielding error with two outs in the fourth. A fielder's choice play at second, however, covered the miscue.
Senior Liz Allum was hit by a pitch and went to third as Allen reached on a throwing error by the pitcher. Allen stole second, but the pair was left stranded by a couple of strikeouts.
Petruzzi took over in the circle in the fifth and allowed a two-out walk, but recovered with her first strikeout of the day.
Senior Jenna Alexander managed a two-out single to right in the fifth, but the Boilermakers could not take advantage of the base hit.
IUPUI snapped the no-hitter with a Mia Ettl bunt single to start the sixth. A throwing error put the next batter aboard and moved both runners into scoring position. A pair of grounders and a fly ball to right prevented a Jaguar score.
The Boilermakers put the game out of reach, packing on three insurance runs on four hits in the sixth. Allen started the two-out rally with a towering solo shot to left field. Gingerich and Horiuchi followed with back-to-back doubles up the left field line, combining for a score. Sophomore Katie Hackney added a pinch hit single up the middle, driving in Horiuchi and putting Purdue up 6-0.
The Jaguars went down in order on a pair of grounders to the pitcher and the final on a ground ball to third base to cap the game.
Purdue (14-18) returns to action at 3 p.m. Thursday, when the team faces off with another instate foe, the Butler Bulldogs, for a pair of games.