March 2, 2012
KISSIMMEE, Fla - It took nearly three hours and nine innings, but the Boilermaker softball team remained undefeated on the year, downing N.C. State 7-5 to move to 10-0 on the season.
Purdue scored its seven runs on 11 hits and two errors, while allowing the Wolfpack five runs on seven hits and an error. Junior Ashley Courtney went 3-for-4 to lead the Boilermaker bats, while sophomores Danielle Fletcher and Tori Chiodo and freshman Ashley Burkhardt each added two hits.
Freshman Lexy Moore (6-0) struck out three in the complete game victory, while Emily Weiman (6-6) struck out five and walked seven in the loss.
Purdue managed three runs on four hits in the ninth to clinch the win. Fletcher started the rally by plating junior Erika Petruzzi with a double off the base of the left field wall. Petruzzi was placed on second to start the inning due to the international tie breaker rule. A grounder moved Fletcher to third, from which she scored on a Courtney single up the middle. Burkhardt and Chiodo added singles to fill the bases for Varsho with two outs. Varsho picked up the RBI and gave Purdue a 7-4 lead with a walk. A fly ball ended the rally.
N.C. State managed a run on two hits in the final stanza, but it was not enough as the Boilermaker defense forced the team to strand two. A single to right center brought in the Wolfpack runner from second. A fielder's choice play at second got the lead runner. A double put runners at second and third, but a fly ball to right field and a grounder to third base clinched the Boilermaker victory.
The Boilermakers had runners at first and third with two outs in the first, when Fletcher lifted a would-be home run to center field, but Wolfpack centerfielder Landon Warren snagged it while falling into the temporary fence to end the inning. Senior Molly Garst was at third after drawing a leadoff walk, stealing second and moving to third on a grounder, while Petruzzi draw a two-out walk.
The Purdue bats heated up in the second inning as the team started the stanza with three straight singles, but the Boilermakers were unable to score. Junior Maia Monchek sent one up the middle. Courtney followed with a perfect bunt that toed the third baseline, then Burkhardt reached on a high bouncer in the shallow infield. A fielder's choice play at the plate, a strikeout and another fielder's choice kept the scoreboard blank.
The Wolfpack got a single in the second, but wasted the hit with a strikeout and two ground outs.
The Boilermakers broke onto the scoreboard in the third, combining a hit and an error for the score. Sophomore Lindsey Rains reached on a fielding error by the third baseman to start the inning. A grounder and wild pitch moved her to third, from which she scored on an Courtney single through the left side. Monchek also reached base via walk in the stanza.
N.C. State scored first with a three-run homer in the bottom of the third. The Caitlin Dent long ball, which was nearly snagged by Monchek, plated two runners who had reached via walk.
The Purdue defense held in the fourth and fifth, making a few great plays, including a tag-and-throw double play by Burkhardt to end the fifth.
Courtney was hit by a pitch with one out to start the sixth-inning rally. The junior stole second and went to third on a ground out, before Chiodo brought her home with a single to left. Garst and sophomore Andie Varsho walked to fill the bases for Rains, who picked up the RBI, battling through a 10-plus pitch at-bat for a walk of her own to knot the score at 3-3. A grounder to the pitcher stranded three.
Both teams had a chance for a seventh-inning score, but stranded a runner at second, to send the game to the eighth inning. Fletcher picked up a single for Purdue and the Boilermakers sacrificed pinch runner MaryBeth Pavlick to second. A strikeout and grounder ended the inning. N.C. State got a leadoff single but a fielder's choice and two ground outs kept the tie intact.
Burkhardt was placed on second to start the eighth. A fielder's choice play at third was too late and the ball sailed wide, allowing the run. Chiodo went to third on a two-out infield single by Rains. A grounder to second base stranded the pair.
Grant was put on second for N.C. State. A snap throw to second to keep her honest sailed into left center, allowing her to score. The Wolfpack went down on two grounders and a K to push the game to the ninth, tied at 4-4.
The Boilermakers finish off Day 1 at the Citrus Classic against Temple.