May 13, 2011
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - An error-riddled fifth inning cost the Purdue softball team in a 2-1 loss to instate rival Indiana on Friday. The Boilermakers led 1-0 entering the stanza, but were unable to recover after allowing the two unearned scores.
Morgan Melloh (31-15) struck out 12 in the victory for Indiana. Senior Suzie Rzegocki (26-15) deserved a better fate, but was saddled with the loss despite striking out four and allowed just four hits.
Indiana scored its two runs on four hits and three Purdue errors, while the Boilermakers managed one run on four hits and four errors. Freshman Lindsey Rains paced the Boilermaker bats with a 2-for-3 effort.
The Boilermakers put up two hits in the first inning, but it was a three-base error that put the team on the board. Freshman Lindsey Rains dribbled a two-out single back at the Hoosier pitcher, who fired a throw wide and into right field as the speedy Rains made it all the way around the basepaths for a score on the miscue. Junior Molly Garst singled to start the game, but was caught stealing before Rains' effort.
Purdue put a runner in the third as senior Shelby Krammer drew a leadoff walk. A fielder's choice put sophomore Ashley Courtney aboard, but saw pinch runner MaryBeth Pavlick out at second. A pair of strikeouts stranded Courtney at first.
A two-out walk and an error gave Purdue two runners in the fourth, but the Boilermakers could not bring either home. Chiodo drew the free pass and Rzegocki reached on a fielding error by the third baseman, before a grounder to first base capped the inning.
The Hoosiers managed its third hit of the game with a two-out single in the fourth, but again stranded the runner. Indiana also wasted a leadoff double in the first and a two-out single in the third.
Garst reached on a two-out fielding error in the fifth. Varsho followed with a bunt single. Garst went to second on the play and continued on to third, where she appeared to have slid in safely, but was controversially called out to wrap the stanza.
Indiana capitalized on three defensive miscues for a pair of runs in the fifth. A fielding error by the shortstop gave the Hoosiers a leadoff base runner. A sacrifice and a grounder to first base pushed her to third. A fielding error by the second baseman allowed the score and kept the inning going. A dropped pop up put runners at the corners, then a passed balll gave IU the 2-1 lead. A fielder's choice eventually ended the inning without further damage.
Rains sent a leadoff single into right field in the sixth, but a fielder's choice and two strikeouts prevented Purdue from capitalizing on the hit.
The Hoosiers tallied a hit in the bottom of the inning as Melloh led off with a single through the right side. A liner to second and two strikeouts kept the score intact.
Courtney gave Purdue one more shot in the seventh as she reached on a two-out fielding error by the shortstop. Pinch runner Aimee Gingerich was left stranded by a strikeout, which gave Melloh the Big Ten record for Ks in a season (470).
The Boilermakers (30-17-2, 8-8-1 Big Ten) will take on the Hoosiers again at 1 p.m. Saturday to wrap up the regular season.