March 5, 2011
CARBONDALE, Ill. - After a four-hour weather delay, the Boilermaker softball team make quick work of Wright State, topping the Raiders 9-1. Purdue put up its nine runs on nine hits and three WSU miscues in the mercy rule win, while allowing a run on three hits and two errors.
Junior Molly Garst went 3-for-4 to lead the Purdue bats, while six players contributed hits. Senior Suzie Rzegocki (W 9-2) struck out four in the complete-game victory for the Boilermakers, while Krystian DeWitt (2-4) was saddled with the loss for the Raiders. Chelsea Contant pitched 2.1 innings of relief for Wright State.
The Boilermakers hit up the Raiders for six runs on three hits and an error in the first. Garst kicked off the offensive barrage with a solo shot to right center to lead off the stanza. Freshman Andie Varsho walked and stole second before going to third on a single up the middle by classmate Lindsey Rains, who promptly stole second herself. A two-base throwing error by the third baseman put rookie Kim McMillan aboard and allowed Varsho to scurry home. Sophomore Erika Petruzzi drew a walk to fill the basepaths for freshman Tori Chiodo, who picked up an RBI with a four-pitch walk. McMillan slid under a throw home on a fielder's choice play. Another fielder's choice, this time off the bat of sophomore Ashley Courtney, brought Petruzzi in to score. Garst came to the plate for the second time in the inning and added another run to Purdue's tally, driving in Chiodo from third with a single to the shortstop. A passed ball advanced Courtney and Garst into scoring position, but a ground ball finally ended the rally.
Wright State got a run back in the second on a two-out home run by Katie Kine.
Purdue answered with a run on two hits and an error in the bottom of the inning. Senior Shelby Krammer singled to right field and went to second as the right fielder misplayed the ball. McMillan singled to left center, driving her home.
The Boilermakers got a pair of walks in the third and a pair of singles from Varsho and Krammer in the fourth but couldn't add to their 7-1 lead.
A one-out single gave WSU a base runner in the sixth, but the next batter grounded into a double play to nullify the hit.
Purdue turned on the offense again in the sixth, capping the game with a two-run, two-hit effort. Courtney doubled to right center to start the inning. Garst followed by rocketing an infield single back at the pitcher and stole second to put two in scoring position. A fielding error by the first baseman put McMillan on base and plated Courtney. With runners at first and third, Krammer sent a ball toward second base. The Raiders converted the fielder's choice play at second, but allowed Garst to come home on the play, ending the contest via mercy rule.
The Boilermakers (10-3) return to action at 10 a.m. ET when they take on the Kentucky Wildcats and round out their stay in Carbondale with a 2 p.m. ET contest with the host Southern Illinois Salukis. Both games will be broadcast live on purduesports.com and can be accessed by clicking the listen link on either the softball schedule page or the schedule on the site front page. Live statistics also will be provided via GameTracker. Live streaming video of the Purdue-Southern Illinois contest will be available as well.