March 16, 2011
FORT MYERS, Fla. - An eighth-inning RBI single clinched a come-from-behind 3-2 win for the Boilermakers against Florida Gulf Coast Wednesday night. The hit capped a game which saw the Purdue career stolen bases record fall.
Junior Molly Garst snagged the 86th stolen base of her Purdue career in the first inning, besting the previous record of 85 set by Liane Horiuchi (2009-2010). She added another steal in the third, while hitting 3-for-3 on the day. Sophomore Erika Petruzzi also had a multi-hit day, going 2-for-4 in the game as Purdue scored its three runs on eight hits and an error. FGCU managed its two runs on six hits and an error.
Senior Suzie Rzegocki (13-6) picked up the win after striking out six and allowing just one hit in 3.1 innings of relief. Freshman Lauren Grant and junior Katie Hackney also pitched for Purdue in the contest. Hackney struck out five batters in four innings of relief work.
Reliever Catherine McDaniel (5-8) was charged with loss for FGCU after giving up the run in the eighth.
The Boilermakers broke the 2-2 with a run on two hits in the eighth. Petruzzi started things off with a double to the right center wall. Rzegocki helped her own cause, roping a one-out single through the right side to score Petruzzi. A strikeout and ground out left Rzegocki stranded at second, bringing Florida Gulf Coast to bat one last time.
The Eagles got a two-out base runner on a hit-by-pitch, but Rzegocki struck out the final batter looking for the win.
Garst sent a leadoff single up the middle in the first and swiped second, tallying the record breaking steal. She went to third on a ground out and scored as Petruzzi bounced a single over the head of the third baseman. A fly ball and grounder to third base brought FGCU to the plate.
The Eagles answered with a pair of runs on three hits in the bottom of the inning. A leadoff double put Courtney Platt aboard. A single put runners at the corners. The next batter grounded into a double play, but Platt was able to score as the Boilermakers recorded the outs. A Mariah Fernandez home run made it 2-1 FGCU and brought Hackney into the circle, where she promptly struck out the next batter to end the inning.
The Boilermakers threatened in the third, but could not tie the score. Garst tallied a one-out single, stole second and went to third as the catcher's throw sailed into centerfield. A strikeout and fly out kept her from coming home.
FGCU loaded the bases on a one-out walk, a fielder's choice and a hit by pitch, but a strikeout left the runners stranded.
Purdue tied the score with a run on two hits in the fifth. Freshman Lindsey Rains drew a two-out walk. Garst followed with a single to second base, which saw her dive safely into the bag, as Rains moved over to third. Freshman Andie Varsho picked up the RBI with a single to short. A line drive to first base capped the stanza.
The Eagles filled the basepaths with two outs in the bottom of the inning, but stout defense kept the game tied. Rzegocki entered the game and forced a grounder to first base to escape the inning unscathed.
Freshman Kim McMillan sent a two-out double into the left center gap in the sixth, but a strikeout left her there at inning's end.
Both teams put a runner on base in the seventh, but neither could muster a run, sending the game to extra innings. Garst drew a two-out walk for Purdue, while a leadoff single accounted for the Eagle runner.
The Boilermakers (16-7) return to action on March 26 when they kick off a four-game slate at the Miami Invitational in Oxford, Ohio.