April 17, 2011
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Boilermaker softball team pulled off its second Big Ten sweep of the season, topping Ohio State 10-8 on Sunday, following a 7-0 victory on Saturday. Purdue scored seven runs in the fifth and held off a late-rallying Buckeye team en route to the win.
The Boilermakers scored 10 runs on 12 hits and two errors, while the Buckeyes scored eight runs on 11 hits and three errors. Sophomore Erika Petruzzi went 2-for-4 with five RBI and two runs, while freshmen Andie Varsho and Kim McMillan also tallied multi-hit days.
Senior Suzie Rzegocki (23-11) picked up the win for Purdue, while Kasie Kelly (3-6) was saddled with the loss for OSU.
Ohio State tallied the game's first hit in the bottom of the first, but a double play erased the runner and a fly ball capped the inning.
Purdue starting the scoring in the second inning as Petruzzi launched a two-run shot, bouncing it off the scoreboard in center field. The long ball plated McMillan, who led off the inning with a double to right center. Sophomore Ashley Courtney managed a two-out single and went to second as the right fielder misplayed the hit, but a fly ball left her stranded.
Varsho sent a one-out single up the middle in the third. A fielder's choice play and a caught foul ball prevented Purdue from advancing around the base paths.
Alicia Herron cut the Purdue lead in half with a two-out home run to left in the third. OSU tied the score with a run on two hits in the fourth. A pair of singles and a sacrifice set up the score, which came on a squeeze bunt.
The Boilermakers hit up the Buckeyes for seven runs on seven hits in the fifth. Freshman Tori Chiodo drew a one-out walk and scored on a double to left center by junior Molly Garst to kick off the rally. Varsho singled to center, plating Garst, then stole second. Freshman Lindsey Rains walked prompting an OSU pitching switch. After the change, McMillan reached on a single to the pitcher to load the bases. Petruzzi singled down the left field line, bringing in two more runs. Senior Shelby Krammer cleared the bases with a three-run shot to left. Freshman Lauren Grant singled down the right field line and Chiodo sent a two-out single into center field, before a grounder to second base capped the rally.
Ohio State put Kelly back in the circle to start the sixth and she allowed the Boilermakers another run on a hit and an error. Varsho reached on an error to begin the stanza and went to second as Rains added a single to center field. A wild pitch pushed the pair into scoring position. A shot back at the pitcher resulted in an out, but allowed Varsho to come home. A pop up left Rains stranded at third as the inning closed.
The Buckeyes were unwilling to go down without a fight, plating six unearned runs on six hits and a pair of errors. OSU loaded the bases with a pair of one-out singles and a fielding error. Another fielding error allowed the first run to score. Ohio State scored five more runs on consecutive hits, including a double, and a fielder's choice play at third. Another fielder's choice play, this one at second base, sent the game to the seventh inning.
After a 1-2-3 Purdue seventh, the Buckeyes kept hope alive as they got a two-out baserunner on a throwing error, but a grounder back to the pitcher sealed the win.
The Boilermakers (26-12-1, 5-3 Big Ten) return to action at 3 p.m. Wednesday when they take on Michigan State in a doubleheader in East Lansing.