May 1, 2011
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Sunday's softball game between Purdue and Penn State wound up in a 0-0 tie after eight innings of play and nearly five and a half hours after it began. Time became a factor as the Boilermakers had to catch a flight home, forcing the end of the game.
PSU tallied two hits and the Boilermakers managed just one in the game, while both teams committed an error.
Senior Suzie Rzegocki (24-13) struck out five for Purdue, while Lisa Akamine tallied nine Ks for Penn State.
Junior Molly Garst drew a leadoff walk and stole second to start the game, but was caught stealing third for the second out of the inning.
The Nittany Lions got their first base runner with a two-out walk in the second, but a grounder to third base left her stranded.
With one out in the third inning, the umpires signaled the beginning of the rain delay. Three hours and 38 minutes later, the game resumed and three pitches later the game saw its first hit as freshman Lauren Grant laced a single up the left field line. A pair of strikeouts kept her at first base at inning's end.
A double and a walk put two on for PSU in the fourth, but a double play and a grounder to the shortstop thwarted the scoring effort.
PSU could not capitalize on a hit batsman in the fifth and a walk in the sixth, stranding both runners.
Freshman Lindsey Rains reached on a dropped fly ball to left in the seventh, but was tagged out sliding into second. A walk put sophomore Erika Petruzzi aboard with two outs, but a strikeout brought PSU to the plate.
The Boilermakers went down in order in the eighth. The Nittany Lions got a one-out single. A fielder's choice play at second base brought the inning's second out, but a throwing error on the double play attempt allowed the batter to advance to second. A ground out to second base ended the game in a tie.