April 28, 2010
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermaker softball team used timely hits and a solid pitching effort to down Michigan State 2-0 in Game 1 of Wednesday's doubleheader.
Purdue scored its two runs on five hits, including a 2-for-3 effort by sophomore Molly Garst, while allowing the Spartans just two hits.
Junior Suzie Rzegocki (19-19) struck out five in the complete-game victory, putting her just one strikeout away from the Purdue season record. Lauren Kramer was saddled with the loss for Michigan State.
MSU tallied the game's first hit with a Lindsey Hansen single in the opening stanza, but came up empty.
The Boilermakers tallied two hits in the third, but could not score. Freshman Erika Petruzzi sent a two-out single up the middle for Purdue's first hit. Garst followed with a single to shallow left, but Petruzzi was caught trying to advance to third on the play.
The Spartans stranded two runners in scoring position in the fourth. A Hansen single, a close fielder's choice play and a grounder set up the RBI opportunity, but a pop up to second base nullified the threat.
Senior Liane Horiuchi walked and put Purdue on the scoreboard in the fourth. The shortstop drew a leadoff walk and stole second, from which she was sacrificed over to third. Freshman Ashley Courtney brought her home with a double to the warning track in right center.
Purdue tacked on another run and threatened for more in the fifth. Freshman Kristen Allen made it 2-0 Boilermakers, lifting a one-out pitch over the wall in right field. Garst followed with a two-out single to left and stole second and third, before Horiuchi joined her with her second free pass of the day. Horiuchi swiped second to put two in scoring position, but a high fly ball to center field was reigned in to cap the inning without further damage.
A fielding miscue by the third baseman put Courtney aboard with one out in the sixth, but a pop up and fielder's choice prevented Purdue from adding to its advantage.
The Spartans went down in order on a ground out, a fly out and pop out to wrap up the contest.
Purdue (23-24, 4-7 Big Ten) will look to complete the season sweep of Michigan State in Game 2w of the double header.