Feb. 13, 2011
BATON ROUGE, La. - An 11-strikeout effort by senior Suzie Rzegocki and a 10-hit offensive effort gave the Purdue softball team a 2-0 win over Bowling Green at the LSU Tiger Classic Sunday morning.
The 11K effort was a career best for Rzegocki, tying her two 11 strikeout efforts during the 2009 season. The senior went the distance in the contest, allowing just three hits and two walks. Melissa Bott (0-3) was charged with the loss for the Falcons after giving up two runs and eight hits in three innings of work. Reliever Erin Greenwalt struck out five Boilermakers and allowed two hits.
Offensively, rookie Andie Varsho led the way with a 3-for-3 effort, while sophomore Erika Petruzzi went 2-for-2. Five other Boilermakers posted a hit.
Aggressive base running gave Purdue two stolen bases in the opening stanza, but also cost the team a pair of potential runs. Junior Molly Garst drew a leadoff walk and stole second. She went to third on a beautiful bunt single by Varsho, but continued around third and was tagged out in a close play at the plate. Varsho swiped second, but was caught stealing third. Sophomore Ashley Courtney gave Purdue another base runner with a single to right, but was left stranded as a strikeout ended the inning.
The Falcons put two on in the bottom of the inning with a walk and a fielder's choice, but Rzegocki rebounded by forcing a foul pop up and two strikeouts.
The Boilermakers managed a pair of hits in the second, but again were unable to break onto the scoreboard. Petruzzi singled through the left side to start the stanza, but was doubled up on a fly ball to right the following play. Rookie Lauren Grant added a double to left center, but another fly out kept the game scoreless.
Lindsey Rains shot a rocket up the middle for a single to lead off the third, then promptly swiped second base. A grounder pushed Rains ahead to third. Varsho picked up the RBI with a ringing single through the right side. A grounder to the pitcher and a single up the middle by senior Shelby Krammer put runners at the corners with two out. Petruzzi made it 2-0 Boilermakers with a single up the right field line. A fielder's choice play at third ended the rally.
Bowling Green tallied its first hit with a one-out single to left in the third, but couldn't muster any further offense.
A single and a sacrifice gave the Falcons a runner in scoring position in the fourth, but another strikeout and a grounder to the pitcher left her stranded.
Varsho added her third hit of the day with a one-out single through the left side in the fifth. She stole second, but was stopped there by a liner to the pitcher and a grounder to short.
Bowling Green's lead off double in the sixth was nullified by a strikeout and a line-out double play.
The Boilermakers were unable to manufacture any offense in the last two innings, but Rzegocki mowed down two more batters in the seventh to secure the win.
Purdue (2-1) returns to action at 12:30 p.m. when it faces off with No. 19 LSU to close out the team's stay in Baton Rouge.