March 31, 2011
SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The Boilermakers clawed their way back into Thursday's game with Notre Dame, but the late-inning rally came up just short. The Fighting Irish won the game 7-5, although Purdue scored five runs in the last three innings and had the game-tying runner at first base when the contest ended.
Purdue managed five runs on eight hits and two Irish errors, while Notre Dame put up seven runs on 10 hits and three Boilermaker miscues. Junior Molly Garst and freshman Andie Varsho each added two hits in the contest, while senior Suzie Rzegocki and freshman Lindsey Rains each lifted a home run.
Laura Winter (9-2) struck out 12 in the win for Notre Dame, while Rzegocki (16-7) issued two Ks in the loss.
Garst started the game with a single up the middle and stole second, but was tagged out trying to steal third for the second out of the inning. A pair of strikeouts accounted for the other putouts.
The Irish put up two run in the bottom of the inning on an Alexia Clay home run. A pair of singles followed, but the Boilermakers caught one runner stealing and forced a fly out and grounder to first base to prevent further damage.
The Boilermakers put together a two-hit rally in the third but could not score. Freshman Danielle Fletcher lifted a fly ball into shallow right field for a one-out single. Garst followed with a two-out double to left center, but the pair was left stranded by a ground ball to the pitcher.
Notre Dame capitalized on a pair of Purdue miscues for a run in the fourth. A single, a fielding error and a walk loaded the bases with two outs. Another fielding error on a ground ball allowed the unearned run to score. A grounder to third base finally capped the inning, leaving three Irish runners on base.
Rzegocki helped her own cause with a towering leadoff home run to left in the fifth. Rains cut the margin to one, sending a two-out, full count pitch sailing over the right field wall later in the inning.
The Irish put two on with a fielder's choice and an error in the fifth, but could not score.
The Boilermakers filled the basepaths in the sixth, but were unable to push any runs across. Varsho led off with a double up the left field line and was sacrificed to third. Freshman Kim McMillan was hit by a pitch and Rzegocki drew a walk to pack the bases, but a pop up to the shortstop kept Purdue from tying the game.
Notre Dame loaded the bases in its half of the sixth and converted the runners into scores with a grand slam off the bat of Heather Johnson. The long ball came with two outs in the inning, after a hit by pitch and two singles had filled the basepaths. A grounder to the shortstop capped the stanza.
Purdue scored three runs in the seventh and had the two aboard and the tying run at the plate when the contest ended. Fletcher reached on a fielding error by the shortstop to start the stanza. Pinch runner Aimee Gingerich advanced to second as Rains drew a walk. A single up the middle by Varsho brought Gingerich home and gave Purdue runners at first and second. Sophomore Erika Petruzzi drove in Rains and Varsho with a double to right center. Petruzzi went to third on the play as the center fielder kicked the ball while attempting to field it. A two-out walk put McMillan on base, giving Purdue runners at the corners, but a comeback was not to be as Winter issued her 12th strikeout to seal the Notre Dame victory.
The Boilermakers (19-8) return to action at 2 p.m. Saturday when they take on the Iowa Hawkeyes in Purdue's home and conference opener. It is Greek/Co-Op day at the Varsity Softball Complex. Students are invited to participate in a postgame home run derby.
The Boilermakers loaded the bases in the sixth, but couldn't manage to tie the game.