Feb. 19, 2012
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The Boilermaker softball team scored five runs in the final two innings of a shortened game to comeback from a 6-5 deficit and post a 10-6 win over the previously undefeated New Mexico Lobos (9-1) on Sunday. The game was concluded after five innings due to travel plans.
Purdue scored 10 runs on 11 hits and an error, while allowing the Lobos six runs on nine hits and three errors. Junior Erika Petruzzi went 3-for-3 with four RBI and three runs to lead the Boilermaker bats. Sophomores Andie Varsho, Lindsey Rains and Danielle Fletcher each added two hits to the team's tally.
Freshman Lexy Moore (3-0) came through in relief again for the Boilermakers, picking up her third win of the weekend and second of the day, issuing one strikeout and giving up just three hits in two and two thirds innings of work. Petruzzi started the game in the circle, but left after two and a third innings and one strikeout.
Purdue jumped out to a 5-0 lead with two runs in the first and three in the second. The Boilermakers had runners at first and third thanks to a double and a steal by senior Molly Garst and a walk by Varsho. The pair tried to pull off a double steal and both were called out in the ensuing run downs. Petruzzi got things started again with a double to center. Rains followed and put the Boilermakers on the board, depositing a long ball over the center field wall. A walk and a single put two more runners on, but the inning ended without further scoring. Another long ball, this time by Petruzzi in the second, made it 5-0. Petruzzi's bomb to center cleared the bases of sophomore Tori Chiodo and Varsho, who reached on a walk and a single respectively. A pitching change got the Lobos out of the inning.
New Mexico got four runs back in the bottom of the single, stringing together four hits, including a three-run home run by Shenise Cox. The team combined a pair of singles and a double for the first score and the long ball accounted for the rest of the scoring.
The Lobos took the lead with two runs on two hits in the third. A single, an error and a walk filled the basepaths, prompting the Boilermaker pitching switch. Moore hit a batter and gave up a single both for scores, but settled in and registered a pair of outs to prevent further damage.
The Boilermakers pounded out four runs on three hits and an error in the fourth to retake the lead, one which they would not relinquish. A pair of walks and a single loaded the bases for Rains, who made good on the RBI opportunity with a single through the left side. She went to second on a fielding error by the left fielder, which allowed another run and moved Petruzzi, who reached on one of the walks, to third. Junior Maia Monchek reached on a fielder's choice the following play, which saw Petruzzi slide in under the attempted tag at the plate. A double to left by Fletcher drove in Rains. A pair of ground outs stranded two.
Purdue added a final insurance run in the fifth, combining two singles and a ground out for the score. Sophomore Tori Chiodo led off with a single to center and went to second on the infield grounder. Petruzzi came through with a two-out RBI single to left to make it 10-6. A fielder's choice play at second capped the inning. The Lobos threatened in the fifth, but the Purdue defense held them at bay to secure the win. A pair of two-out singles started the would be rally, but a fielder's choice play at second base capped the inning and the game.
The Boilermakers (4-0) return to action on Friday, when they take on Belmont at the Frost Classic in Chattanooga, Tenn.