March 26, 2011
OXFORD, OHIO - The Boilermakers kept fans on the edge of their seats awaiting a Purdue rally against Miami (Ohio) Saturday afternoon, but rewarded their faithful with six runs over the final three stanzas in a 6-3 win over the Redhawks.
Purdue racked up six runs on 10 hits and an error, while allowing the Redhawks three runs on nine hits and an error. Freshmen Tori Chiodo, Danielle Fletcher and Lindsey Rains chalked up two hits apiece for the Boilermakers.
Senior Suzie Rzegocki (14-6) went the distance in the circle for Purdue, striking out five in the complete-game victory. Rzegocki took sole possession of the career starts record with her 125th, moving ahead of Brooke Baker (2004-07).
Miami put an unearned run on the board in the first inning. A fielding error gave the Redhawks a baserunner to start the stanza. A pair of fielder's choice plays and a walk put runners at first and second with two outs. Daniela Torres drove in the run with a single to center field.
The Redhawks stranded a runner in the second and third after getting a hit in each inning.
Purdue got its first baserunner in the fourth as freshman Andie Varsho reached on a two-base error by the first baseman. A pair of strikeouts kept the Boilermakers from making good on the RBI opportunity.
Miami combined a pair of hits for another score in the fourth. A double and sacrifice put a runner at third for Kirstie Fehrenbach, who sent a single up the middle to make it 2-0. A double play capped the inning.
The Boilermaker offense finally broke through with three runs on four hits in the fifth. Freshman Tori Chiodo snapped the no-hit bid with a one-out single to the shortstop. Freshman Danielle Fletcher followed with a single up the left field line and Rzegocki loaded the bases with a walk. Freshman Lindsey Rains put Purdue on the board with a single through the left side. Garst tacked on two more with a slow rolling, seeing-eye single up the middle.
The Redhawks knotted the score at 3-3 with a run on a hit in the bottom of the inning. Torres again picked up the RBI for Miami, using a two-out double to left center to plate a runner from second. The base runner reached on a walk and was sacrificed over to second.
Chiodo lifted a two-out double over the head of the left fielder in the sixth. Fletcher picked up an RBI driving a single up the middle to put Purdue up 4-3. Rzegocki rapped a sharply-hit single through the left side and Rains added one of her own, but the Boilermakers were unable to add to their advantage.
Senior Shelby Krammer launched a two-run shot over the right center wall in the seventh to give Purdue a pair of insurance runs. The two-out long ball brought in Varsho, who had doubled and was waiting on third after a ground out.
Rzegocki forced a pair of grounders and a fly out in the seventh to seal the win.
Purdue (17-7) returns to action at approximately 5:30 p.m. ET when it faces Toledo to wrap up the day.