March 14, 2012
FULLERTON, Calif. - The Boilermaker softball team racked up eight runs on 15 hits to edge Cal State Fullerton 8-6 in an offensive slugfest Wednesday night.
Purdue posted its eight runs on 15 hits and an error, while allowing the Titans six runs on 15 hits and an error. Junior Ashley Courtney led the Boilermaker bats with a 3-for-4 effort, while eight of the nine Purdue starters tallied hits. Five batters posted two-hit performances.
Freshman Lexy Moore (9-2) struck out four in the winning effort, which saw her throw five innings in relief of junior Erika Petruzzi. Desiree Ybarra (7-9) was saddled with the loss for Fullerton.
The Titans combined a one-out double and a two-out single for a run in the first inning.
Sophomore Danielle Fletcher leveled the score at 1-1 with a single swing of the bat in the second, lifting a solo home run up the left field line. The Boilermakers took a 2-1 lead combining a two-out double by Petruzzi and a single to shallow left by freshman Ashley Burkhardt later in the inning.
Fullerton managed two hits in the second, but the Boilermaker defense kept them off the scoreboard.
The Boilermakers tacked on another run in the third as sophomore Lindsey Rains and senior Molly Garst combined hits. Rains led off with a single through the right side and went to second on a grounder, setting the table for Garst, who singled to left. The left fielder misplayed the ball, allowing Rains to come home. Garst was tagged out at second to end the play. Purdue reloaded offensively, filling the basepaths with a pair of two-out walks and an Ashley Courtney single, but could not add to their 3-1 advantage.
The Titans tied it up at 3-3 with a pair of runs on three hits in the bottom of the inning. Fullerton managed back to back singles to start the inning, prompting a Purdue pitching change as Moore took over in the circle. An illegal pitch moved the runners into scoring position for Eliza Crawford, who sent a one-out single into center field, bring both home. A fielder's choice play at second and a diving snag by Garst at shortstop stranded one Titan base runner.
Purdue built some separation with five runs on five hits in the fourth. Rains plated a run with a triple to the left center gap, bringing in sophomore Tori Chiodo, who had posted a one-out single. Rains came home on Garst single to left. Garst and sophomore Andie Varsho, who had reached on an infield singled, crossed the plate as Courtney launched a three-run bomb over the left field fence to make it 8-3.
Fullerton plated two runs on four hits and an error in the bottom of the inning, but left the bases full at innings' end. A trio of singles filled the bases with one out. A throwing error on a fielder's choice play at the plate scored the first run. A single to left two plays later scored the second. A grounder to second base capped the stanza.
The Boilermakers threatened in the fifth, filling the bases on a single, a fielder's choice and a hit batsman. A ground ball kept Purdue off the scoreboard.
The Titans used a triple and a sacrifice fly to get another run back in the fifth.
Courtney picked up her third hit of the game with a one-out double to right center in the sixth, but a pair of fly outs kept her from coming home.
Purdue put two aboard in the final stanza, but could not add any insurance runs. Rains drew a two-out walk and Varsho singled, before a strikeout ended the stanza.
Fullerton kept hope alive with a two-out single in the seventh, but Moore issued her fourth strikeout of the game to cap the win.
The Boilermakers (14-7) return to action at 2 p.m. ET Thursday, when they take on BYU in Fullerton.