Feb. 25, 2012
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Boilermakers showed no mercy against Niagara, posting a 14-6 run-rule shortened win over the Purple Eagles on Saturday morning. Purdue tallied 15 hits, including five for extra bases, in the victory, which also saw junior Erika Petruzzi pick up her first pitching win of the year.
Purdue did not score in the first inning, but poured on the runs over the next four stanzas, including a nine score third inning. Senior Molly Garst and Petruzzi tallied three hits apiece, while sophomores Andie Varsho and Danielle Fletcher and rookie Ashley Burkhardt posted two hit efforts.
Niagara scored first with a run on an error in the opening stanza. A pair of walks and a steal put runners at first and second. The lead runner broke for third and slid in safely. The Boilermakers threw to second to try to snag the trail runner, but the ball sailed into center field, allowing the score. A ground out and two strikeouts capped the inning.
The Boilermakers had a scoring chance in the bottom of the inning after Varsho singled, stole second and went to third on a grounder. Another ground ball prevented the score.
Purdue knotted the score at 1-1 combining a pair of second inning hits. Fletcher led off with a triple to the left center gap. Junior Maia Monchek put the Boilermakers on the board with a two-out single through the left side. Monchek swiped second before being left stranded.
The Boilermakers broke the game open, hanging a nine spot on the Purple Eagles in the third. A Garst single was the first of seven hits in the inning. The senior stole second and was joined on base by Varsho and Petruzzi, who reached via walk and a bunt single. Rains and Fletcher added back to back RBI walks. Burkhardt plated two more with a single through the right side. A single by junior Ashley Courtney made it 5-1 and prompted an NU pitching change. Kim Bryson took over in the circle with runners at the corners and allowed Monchek a sacrifice fly. Garst sent a triple into the right center gap to drive in Courtney from second. Garst came home the next play on a Varsho single to the pitcher. Varsho stole second setting up a Petruzzi RBI double to left center. A grounder to the pitcher finally ended the rally.
Niagara responded with a five-run, six hit effort in the fourth. With runners at second and third, a wild pitch could have spelled trouble, but a snap play by catcher MaryBeth Pavlick, who had just entered the game, prevented the score. The trail runner advanced on the play, however, and scored on a single soon after. Two more RBI singles, one through the right side, another to left field, made it 10-4. A double to center cleared the bases and capped the scoring for the Purple Eagles. A walk and an error followed, but a fly ball ended the stanza.
A leadoff home run by Fletcher got one run back in the fourth. The Boilermakers ended the contest early with four runs on four hits in the bottom of the fifth. Garst singled and stole second and third before scoring on an infield grounder. A Petruzzi single kept things going. Pinch runner Gabi Brown came around to score on a Rains triple to right center. Fletcher walked to bring up Burkhardt, who lasered a ground ball up the right field line. The would-be triple was stopped as Rains crossed the plate, enacting the eight-run mercy rule. Fletcher also came home, but her run did not count as the game technically ended with Rains' score.
The Boilermakers (7-0) wrap up Day 2 of the Frost Classic with a 3:30 p.m. ET contest with the host Chattanooga Lady Mocs.