Feb. 27, 2011
WOODSTOCK, Ga. - The Boilermakers wrapped up a 4-0 weekend at the Phyllis Rafter Memorial Classic with a 7-4 win over the Mercer Bears Sunday afternoon. The Boilermakers were the only team at the event with an unblemished mark.
"We accomplished what we set out to do this weekend, which was to come out 4-0," head coach Kim Maher said. "We had lots of good hits, pitching and defensive play. We still need work on stringing hits together and hit in timely situations."
The Boilermakers scored seven runs on nine hits and two errors, while allowing four runs on eight hits and an error. Freshmen Danielle Fletcher and Tori Chiodo led the Purdue bats with two hits apiece. Fletcher and senior Shelby Krammer each posted a home run in the contest.
Senior Suzie Rzegocki (8-2) struck out five in the complete-game victory, while Jenni Holtz (7-2) was charged with the loss for Mercer.
The Boilermakers utilized all aspect of their offense to score three runs in the second. A single, a double, a triple, a walk and a sacrifice fly contributed to the scores. Freshman Kim McMillan led off with a doubled to left center and went to third on a ground out, before coming home on a sacrifice fly to left by sophomore Erika Petruzzi. Fletcher tripled up the right field line and sophomore Ashley Courtney walked to give Purdue runners at the corners for Chiodo, who delivered with a single through the left side to bring Fletcher home. Courtney stole third and the catcher's throw sailed into left field allowing her to score. Chiodo swiped second on the backend of the double steal, but was tagged out returning second after Courtney's score.
Purdue tacked on three runs in the third on Krammer's blast over the scoreboard in right center. The long ball brought in freshman Lindsey Rains and McMillan, who reached on a single and a fielder's choice. Freshman Andie Varsho also had a single and a steal in the inning, but was put out as the lead runner in the fielder's choice.
Fletcher made it 7-0 with a solo shot to lead off the fourth. Courtney followed with a single up the middle. Pinch hitter Katie Hackney reached on a one-out fielding error by the second baseman, pushing pinch runner MaryBeth Pavlick to second, but the pair was left stranded by a strikeout and caught foul.
After putting a runner on to no avail in four of the first five innings, Mercer finally broke through with a two-run shot off the scoreboard by Sara Stukes. The one-out hit made good on a leadoff single.
Chiodo posted a one-out single in the sixth, but Purdue could not add to its lead.
In the seventh, the Bears cut the margin to three on a two-run home run by Krista Kennedy. The blast scored Allison Jones, who had reached on a one-out fielding error. Mercer got another base runner with a single to left, but a fielder's choice and a ground out secured the Purdue win.
The Boilermakers (9-3) return to action on Saturday when they take on Wright State at the SIU Coach B Classic in Carbondale, Ill.