April 18, 2010
MADISON, Wis. - The Boilermaker softball team took advantage of its offensive opportunities, scoring in a variety of ways in a 5-1 victory over Wisconsin on Sunday, evening the season series. Purdue racked up its five runs on nine hits and two Badgers miscues, while holding UW to just a run on five hits.
Senior Ashley Barr and freshman Erika Petruzzi each recorded a pair of hits for Purdue, which edged to just two games under .500 on the season.
Junior Suzie Rzegocki (16-17) struck out six batters in the win, while Letty Olivarez (7-19) was saddled with the loss after three and two thirds innings of work. Meghan McIntosh and Kristyn Hansen also saw action in the circle for Wisconsin.
After putting just five base runner on in Saturday's game, the Boilermakers were much more patient at the plate, drawing three walks and swiping three bases in the opening stanza. Unfortunately, Purdue was unable to bring any runs home in the stanza. Senior Liane Horiuchi drew a one out walk and swiped second and third. Petruzzi garnered a two-out walk and stole second. Barr followed with a walk to fill the bases, but a strikeout ended the inning without a score.
Wisconsin put two on with a walk and a single in the bottom of the first, but came up empty as Rzegocki struck the final batter out looking.
The Boilermakers broke onto the scoreboard with as sophomore Molly Garst bounced an RBI double off the center field wall in the second inning. The hit scored freshman Kristen Allen, who reached on a fielder's choice and was sacrificed over to second. Garst was caught stealing for the inning's final out.
Purdue threatened again in the third, but could not add to its lead. Horiuchi led off with a double to the left field wall, but was later caught stealing third. Petruzzi gave the Boilermakers another base runner and was joined on base by Barr, who drew her second walk of the day. A deep fly ball to right was reined in by the Badgers to end the threat.
The Badgers tied it up with a run on a hit in the bottom of the third. Shannel Blackshear poked an RBI single through the left side to make it 1-1. The hit drove in Jennifer Krueger, who reached on a fielder's choice, stole second and went to third on a fly out.
The Boilermakers took advantage of a Wisconsin fielding miscue for a run in the fourth. Allen lifted a fly ball to left center, which bounced out of the center fielder's glove and to the ground, allowing Allen to wind up at second base. Senior Liz Allum bumped Allen to third with a single into shallow center field. Allen scurried home the next play as Garst reached on a fielder's choice play at second base. Horiuchi joined Garst on base with a walk, before a grounder to the shortstop stranded both.
Rzegocki helped her own cause in the fifth, driving in two runs with a single through the right side. The single, Purdue's third of the inning, plated Petruzzi and Barr, who were at second and third after back-to-back singles and a sacrifice. Rzegocki went to second on a wild pitch, but a liner to third and strikeout kept her from coming home.
Wisconsin recorded a bunt single to lead off the fifth, but a pair of fielder's choice plays and a strikeout nullified the hit.
The Boilermakers made it 5-1 with a run on two hits and an error in the sixth. Senior Jenna Alexander got things started with a two-out single up the middle and went to second on a passed ball. Petruzzi walked after gaining new life as the catcher dropped a routine foul ball which would have ended the inning. Barr laid down a bunt single to load the bases. Pitcher Meghan McIntosh airmailed a pitch to the next batter, allowing Alexander to coming home. A grounder to second base capped the inning with two in scoring position.
The Badgers wasted a leadoff single in the sixth, bring Purdue to the plate.
Rzegocki drew a leadoff walk in the seventh, but a double play and a liner to the pitcher gave Wisconsin its final chance.
A grounder to third base, a liner to the shortstop and a grounder to the pitcher wrapped up the game.
The Boilermakers (20-22, 3-5 Big Ten) return to action at 3 p.m. Wednesday when they travel to Muncie, Ind., for a doubleheader against Ball State.