April 15, 2010
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermaker softball team finished off its first season sweep of Valparaiso since 2002 with a 9-0 mercy-rule win in Game 2 of Thursday's doubleheader. Junior Shelby Krammer supplied a three-run walk off home run to cap the five-inning affair.
Purdue racked up its nine runs on eight hits and four Crusader miscues, while allowing just five hits in the contest. Krammer, senior Ashley Barr and sophomore Molly Garst accounted for two hits apiece.
Junior Suzie Rzegocki (15-16) tossed her fifth shutout of the season, including a strikeout, in the winning effort, while starter Sam McGee (10-3) took the loss for VU. McGee threw three and a third innings, allowing four runs and six hits. Shaleigh Jansen and Carrie Franson also saw action for the Crusaders.
Valpo sent a single up the middle to start the game, but a pair of fielder's choice players and a looking strikeout prevented any damage.
Sophomore Molly Garst sent a triple to the wall in left with one out in the home half of the first to give Purdue its first base runner. A fielder's choice play and a pop up kept the Boilermakers from scoring.
The Boilermakers broke onto the scoreboard with a run on two hits and an error in the second. Barr sliced a two-out single up the middle, before coming around to score on a Krammer single to right. The ball scooted past the Crusader outfielder allowing Barr to score and Krammer to advance to second. A strikeout prevented Krammer from coming home.
A walk, a single and a sacrifice gave VU runners in scoring position in the third, but senior catcher Jenna Alexander laid out to snag a foul ball to wrap up the inning.
Purdue piled on two more runs on two hits and two Crusader miscues in the third. Senior Liane Horiuchi led off with a single to left. Garst followed with a single toward first base, which sent Horiuchi to third. A sharply hit ball up the middle caromed off the pitcher and over to the third baseman, who fired over to first, but it was enough to plate Horiuchi and pick up an RBI for freshman Maia Monchek. Alexander walked to put runners at first and third. Alexander took off for second base and picked up the steal. The catcher's throw sailed into center field, allowing Garst to score and make it 4-0. A fielding error by the shortstop put runners at first and third, before a fielder's choice play ended the rally.
The Crusaders had their best scoring opportunity in the fourth, but came up empty. Sadie Connor doubled to right center to start the inning. Her pinch runner went to third on a grounder. Another ground out and a diving catch by Garst in foul territory left the runner stranded.
Two more runs came the Boilermakers' way thanks to a Crusader error in the fourth. Senior Liz Allum singled up the middle, prompting the first Valpo pitching switch. Pinch runner Aimee Gingerich was sacrificed to second, before Garst drew a walk. The pair moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. A grounder split the wickets of the shortstop allowing both to race home.
A fifth-inning triple by Sara Strickland could have spelled trouble for the Boilermakers, but a heads up fielder's choice play by Garst nullified the threat. A fielding error gave Valpo runners at first and second. A single to right field advanced the runners, but the Purdue defense refused to give up the shutout, firing home to prevent a score.
Rzegocki walked and stole second to start the fifth, before Allen joined her with another free pass. Franson took over in the circle and allowed Barr a single up the middle, which drove in Rzegocki. Barr and Allen went to second and third on the throw home, setting the table for Krammer's walk-off heroics. The junior tattooed a 2-0 pitch and deposited it well past the left field wall.
The Boilermakers (19-21) will look to reach the .500 mark when they face off with the Wisconsin Badgers for a conference series in Madison on Saturday and Sunday.