April 1, 2010
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - For the second time in as many days, junior pitcher Suzie Rzegocki tossed a one-hitter against an instate foe. In Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader with Butler, the Lemont, Ill., native allowed just a seventh-inning single in a 1-0 Boilermaker victory. The base knock was only the second she had allowed in her last 18 innings in the circle.
Rzegocki (11-13) struck out seven batters and allowed just one walk in the complete-game victory. Jenny Esparza (11-3) struck out 11 in the losing effort for Butler.
Purdue scored its one run on three hits, while allowing just one hit and committing an error. Senior Liz Allum drove in the game's lone run with a fourth-inning single.
Sophomore Molly Garst was the game's first base runner as she drew a one-out walk in the first. Garst stole second, but was left stranded by a pair of strikeouts.
Allum and freshman Kristen Allen each reached on walks in the second, but neither would make it around to score.
The Bulldogs put their first runner on base in the fourth as Erin Jackson was hit in the foot in a bizarre play to start the inning. A fielder's choice and a fielding error gave Butler two on with two outs, but a liner to the second baseman capped the inning with no scoring.
The Boilermakers broke into the runs column with a run on two hits in the fourth. Senior Jenna Alexander bounced a leadoff double off the left field wall. Pinch runner Ashley Barr was sacrificed over to third and came home on an Allum single through the left side.
Butler received a one-out walk to no avail in the fifth as a fielder's choice play at second and a caught foul ball capped the inning.
Senior Liane Horiuchi drew a two-out walk in the fifth and stole second, but could not score as a strikeout ended the inning.
Freshman Maia Monchek led off the sixth with a single up the middle. She was sacrificed over to second before being joined on base by freshman Ashley Courtney who drew a one-out free pass. A pop up and a strikeout kept Purdue from adding to its 1-0 lead.
Erin Falkenberry spoiled Rzegocki's no-hit effort with a single up the middle to lead off the seventh inning. A pop up and two strikeouts, however, preserved the shutout.
The Boilermakers (15-18) look to finish a series sweep with a win in Game 2 of the twin bill.