Feb. 26, 2012
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - The Boilermaker softball team capped a 5-0 weekend with 10-4 win over Troy at the Frost Classic, which including two record-tying efforts.
Purdue moved to 9-0 on the year with the victory, which saw the team post a record-tying 18 hits, including a 5-for-5 effort by senior Molly Garst. The five hit effort ties Angi Roembke's performance against Indiana on April 14, 2002.
The Boilermakers posted 10 runs on 18 hits and an error, while allowing Troy four runs on 12 hits. Garst led the way with a 5-for-5 effort, while sophomore Lindsey Rains managed three hits. Junior Maia Monchek and sophomores Andie Varsho and Danielle Fletcher tallied two hits apiece.
Senior Katie Hackney (1-0) picked up her first win of the season, tossing 1.2 innings of relief in the middle of the game, striking out two. Freshmen Lexy Moore and Alex Whittemore also saw time in the circle.
Purdue wasted no time jumping on the scoreboard as Garst lifted a home run to left field just three pitches into the game.
Troy threatened, putting runners at second and third after two singles and a sacrifice, but the defense held.
The Boilermakers extended their lead with four runs on five hits and an error in the second. Fletcher and freshman Ashley Burkhardt singled and the pair moved into scoring position on a sacrifice, setting the table for a Monchek RBI single. Monchek stole second and Burkhardt scored on the play as the throw went into center field. Garst picked up her second RBI of the game with a single to left, plating Monchek. Garst stole second then came home on a single to center field by sophomore Lindsey Rains. The Trojans switched pitchers and ended the inning with a strikeout.
Troy stranded a runner in the second, but got one run back in the third with a Hannah Renn leadoff home run.
Purdue made it 6-1 combining a pair of singles and a steal in the fourth. Monchek led off with a hit. Pinch runner Gabi Brown stole second and scored on a bunt single by Garst. Garst stole second and sent to third on a Rains single, but the Boilermakers could not add to their advantage.
The Trojans combined three hits for a run in the bottom of the inning. A pair of singles and a fielder's choice filled the bases, then a Renn single through the left side scored the run. The Boilermakers brought in Hackney to pitch and she got out of the inning, forcing a fielder's choice and a strikeout.
Fletcher doubled and Brown added a single in the fifth, but Purdue couldn't bring them in to score.
Troy cut into the deficit with a run on two hits in the fifth. An RBI single by pitcher Jaycee Affeldt accounted for the score, driving in a runner from third after a single, a steal and a ground out.
The Boilermakers tacked on some insurance runs in the sixth as Rains launched a three-run homer to right center. The long ball scored Garst and Varsho, who had singled before a Trojan pitching change. Moore picked up her first hit of the season with a single up the middle, but she was called for leaving early on a would-be stolen base the following play. Fletcher walked, but a double play brought Troy to the plate.
Renn picked up another run for the Trojans, scoring after a double, a wild pitch and a single by Kelly Luquette. Whittemore took the circle after the score and, after giving up a single, forced a double play and a ground out to get out of the inning.
Purdue stretched the advantage to 10-4, capitalizing on a leadoff walk to Courtney in the seventh. Courtney drew the free pass, went to second on a ground out and scored on a single up the middle by sophomore Tori Chiodo. Garst sent a two-out double into left center for the record-tying hit and Varsho added a single, but a fly out stranded them.
Troy managed a one-out walk in the final stanza, but Burkhardt made a nice snag on a grounder to second to kick off a 4-6-3 double play which ended the game.
The Boilermakers return to action at 10 a.m. Friday, March 2, when they take on North Carolina State at the Citrus Classic in Orlando.