April 30, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Boilermakers scored in each of the first four innings, but were bitten by a five-run Penn State rally in an 8-5 loss on Saturday evening.
Purdue scored its five runs on eight hits and two errors, while allowing the Nittany Lions eight runs on six hits and three errors. Seven Boilermakers tallied hits, including junior Molly Garst who led the Purude bats with a pair of hits, including a home run.
Lisa Akamine (10-8) picked up the win for PSU, tossing 4.1 innings in relief of Jackie Hill. Senior Suzie Rzegocki (24-13) was saddled with the loss for Purdue, despite allowing just three earned runs in three innings of work. Katie Hackney did not allow a hit in three innings of relief work.
Garst led off the first with a towering solo shot to right field to put Purdue on the board just four pitches into the contest.
PSU wasted a two-out walk in the bottom of the inning.
Rzegocki helped her own cause with a double to left center to kick off the second inning. Senior Shelby Krammer followed with a single to right center to bring her home.
The Nittany Lions put two aboard with two outs in the second with a walk and a single, but stranded both with a fly out.
The Boilers loaded the bases with one out in the third on a pair of singles and a fielding error by the shortstop. A single up the middle by sophomore Erika Petruzzi plated Garst from third. Freshman Andie Varsho headed home from second, but was called out in a close play at the plate. A grounder to the pitcher capped the inning.
Penn State scored three unearned runs in the third to tie the game. A fielding error and a throwing error put runners at first and third with nobody out. A Kailyn Johnson single put PSU on the board. A one out single loaded the bases, setting up a squeeze bunt, in which all hands were safe. A wild pitch brought in the final run. A walk filled the bases again, but Rzegocki issued her first strikeout of the game to get out of the inning.
Purdue went back on top with two runs on two hits in the fourth. Freshman Kim McMillan sent a one-out single into right field and scored the next play as sophomore Ashley Courtney laced a sharply hit triple up the first baseline. Courtney came home on a wild pitch moments later.
The Nittany Lions surged ahead 8-5 batting around and plating five runs on three hits and an error in the fourth. PSU started the stanza with a walk and a single. A pair of doubles put two runs on the board. A throwing error on a fielder's choice play at the plate allowed another score. A bases loaded grounder to the shortstop and an RBI grounder to first base capped the scoring.
The Boilermakers had base runners in each of the last three innings, but were unable to tally a run. A one-out walk put freshman Lindsey Rains on in the fifth.
Krammer drew a leadoff walk in the sixth. Pinch runner Mary Beth Pavlick advanced to third as Courtney reached on a fielding error by the second baseman, but the pair was left stranded.
Varsho drew a leadoff walk in the seventh, which was erased by a fielder's choice which put Rains aboard. A strikeout and pop up ended the game.
The Boilermakers (28-14-1, 6-5 Big Ten) will face the Nittany Lions in a rematch at noon Sunday. The game will air live on the Big Ten Network.