Feb. 19, 2011
SAN MARCOS, Texas - The Boilermaker softball team mounted a late comeback, but it was not enough to overtake the Iowa State Cyclones Saturday evening. Purdue managed 13 hits in the game, including a 4-for-4 effort by junior Molly Garst and multi-hit efforts by three other players, but could not overcome three defensive miscues in the 8-5 loss.
Garst picked up three RBI and lacked just a double from hitting for the cycle, posting a first-inning triple, a third-inning single and a fifth-inning home run, before wrapping up her day with a sixth-inning single. Freshmen Andie Varsho, Tori Chiodo and Lindsey Rains added two hits apiece.
Rachel Zabriskie (3-1) picked up the win, despite allowing five runs in 5.2 innings of work. Breeanna Holliday picked up the save. Senior Suzie Rzegocki (3-2) was saddled with the loss for Purdue after striking out one and allowing four runs in 1.1 innings. Sophomore Erika Petruzzi and junior Katie Hackney also saw time in the circle. Hackney threw the closing four innings of the game, striking out three and allowing just two hits.
Garst led off the game with a triple to right center. Varsho joined her with a walk and swiped second. Purdue was unable to muster a score, however, as a pop up and two strikeouts left the runners stranded.
Iowa State took advantage of Purdue miscues for three runs in the bottom of the inning. The Cyclones filled the bases on a pair of walks and a fielder's choice. A fielder's choice play at the plate accounted for the inning's first out, but left the bases full. A fielding error by the third baseman brought one run across and a walk plated another. A ground ball to second base made it 3-0 before a looking strikeout prevented further damage.
The Cyclones tacked on another run on two hits in the second. Carleigh Berry started the inning with a single to short, went to third on a wild pitch and a ground out, before scoring on a single to left field. Petruzzi entered the circle one out and two runners aboard, but she forced two ground outs to escape the inning.
The Boilermakers got a run back in the third, combining two hits and a sacrifice fly. Rains led off with a double up the left field line. Garst singled to second base to give Purdue runners at the corners, then stole second to move into scoring position. A Varsho sacrifice fly put Purdue on the board.
A two run, two hit sixth made it 6-1 ISU. A walk and an illegal pitch set up an RBI double to center. An RBI single to left accounted for the other score and prompted a Purdue pitching change. Hackney took over in the circle and quickly prompted two grounders to get out of the inning.
Freshman Tori Chiodo sent a single up the middle and sophomore Ashley Courtney reached on a fielding error by the first baseman to give Purdue two on with one out in the fourth. A strikeout and a ground out kept the Boilermakers from cutting into the deficit.
Rains lifted a double to the right center gap to start the fifth, setting the table for Garst, who came through in a big way with a towering home run to right field. Petruzzi singled up the middle with one out and advanced to third after a ground out and a wild pitch. A strikeout, however, kept her from scoring.
The Boilermaker comeback effort continued in the sixth as the team managed two runs on three hits and an error. Courtney reached on a fielding error by the third baseman. A single to right by freshman Kim McMillan and a fly ball to right gave the team two runners in scoring position with Garst coming to the plate. The junior tallied her fourth hit of the day with an RBI single to right. McMillan went to third on the play before scoring on a Varsho single to short. After an ISU pitching change, a grounder to the shortstop kept Purdue from tying it up.
Iowa State had two on with two in the sixth after a bunt single and a walk. An infield grounder was mishandled and wound up in short center field, allowing two runs to score. A ground out brought Purdue to the plate one final time.
Freshman Danielle Fletcher got the Boilermaker offense going with a single up the middle. A single to the shortstop by Chiodo moved pinch runner MaryBeth Pavlick into scoring position. A ground ball to the pitcher put runners at second and third, but two more ground outs kept Purdue from capitalizing and ended the game.
The Boilermakers (3-3) return to action at 10 a.m. Sunday when they will take on the Cyclones in a rematch. The team will then face Texas State at noon to close out its stay at the CenturyLink Classic.