March 14, 2012
FRESNO, Calif. - The Boilermaker softball team's aim at redemption against Fresno State fell short on Tuesday in a 5-2 decision, but Purdue will look to bounce back in less than 24 hours against Cal State Fullerton.
Purdue scored its two runs on seven hits and an error, but stranded eight base runners. Fresno State scored its five runs on nine hits and an error. Senior Molly Garst led the Boilermaker bats with a two-hit effort.
Mackenzie Oakes (7-2) earned the complete-game victory for FSU, while junior Erika Petruzzi was saddled with the loss for Purdue. Freshman Lexy Moore struck out three batters in four and a third innings of relief work in the circle.
The Boilermakers threatened in the first, but could not score, leaving two runners on at inning's end. Sophomore Andie Varsho drew a one-out walk. Senior Molly Garst followed with a single through the left side. A ground ball pushed both into scoring position, but another ground out capped the inning with no score.
Fresno State got a one-out single in the bottom of the inning, but a pop up and a liner stranded the runner.
Purdue had runners in scoring position again in the second, but was kept off the scoreboard by a couple of Bulldog fielder's choice plays. Junior Maia Monchek led off with a free pass and advanced to third on a ground out and an error by the shortstop, which put freshman Lexy Moore on base. A fielder's choice play at the plate saw Monchek out. Another play, this time at second base, stranded two Boilermakers.
The Bulldogs combined two hits and a Boilermaker miscue for a pair of runs in the second. A single and an error put runners at the corners for Kaitlin Griffin, who plated both with a double up the right field line. A wild pitch moved Griffin to third, from which she scored on a two-out single up the middle. The hit prompted a Purdue pitching change as Moore took over in the circle and promptly forced a ground out to end the inning.
The Boilermakers strung together four hits for a pair of runs in the third. Garst started things off by legging out a single to short. Sophomore Danielle Fletcher followed with a single to left. A wild pitch moved the pair into scoring position for Monchek, who scored one when she ricocheted a single off the pitcher. Freshman Ashley Burkhardt added another run with a single through the left side. A walk loaded the bases, but a grounder prevented further scoring.
Fresno State got one run back in the bottom of the inning. A single and a fielder's choice play put two aboard for Maria Sio, who singled to left. The lead runner was called safe at the plate in a very close play to make it 4-2 Bulldogs.
Purdue put runners on in the fourth and fifth, but could not convert them into scores. Varsho singled in the fourth, but was caught stealing. Garst then drew a two-out walk, but a ground out kept Purdue from turning the free pass into more. Junior Ashley Courtney singled to start the fifth, but was out on a fielder's choice the following play. Pinch runner Gabi Brown stole second, but a double play ended the threat.
A Courtney Moore solo home run in the fifth made it 5-2 FSU.
The Boilermakers went down in order in the sixth and seventh to clinch the game for Fresno State.
Purdue (13-7) returns to action at 9 p.m. ET Wednesday when they take on Cal State Fullerton in Fullerton, Calif.