March 3, 2012
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Boilermaker softball team found itself on the short end of a 7-5 score against South Alabama Saturday afternoon, despite scoring four runs in the final three stanzas.
Purdue scored its five runs on nine hits and two errors, while allowing USA seven runs on 10 hits and three errors. The Boilermakers and Jaguars each stranded seven runners.
Sophomore Andie Varsho and Lindsey Rains and freshman Ashley Burkhardt each tallied two hits for Purdue.
Hannah Campbell (5-5) picked up the win for the Jaguars, while Katy Neal earned the save after throwing the final two innings. Freshman Lexy Moore (5-1) struck out eight batters in the loss for Purdue.
The Jaguars scored three runs on four hits in the first, combining four singles for the runs. With runners at first and second after the first two hits, Christin Crocker brought in one run with a single through the left side. A single up the middle with two runners in scoring position made it 3-0.
Purdue got one run back in the bottom of the inning, scoring a run on a hit and an error. Rains did it all in the inning, reaching on a short single, stealing second and third and coming home as the catcher's throw to third sailed into the outfield. Sophomore Danielle Fletcher also reached base, with a walk, and picked up a steal on the backend of Rains' second nab.
South Alabama wasted a third-inning double, and Purdue returned the favor in the bottom of the inning, stranding Varsho, who reached on a two-out single through the left side.
The Jaguars strung together five hits for three scores in the fifth. A pair of singles and a fielding error gave USA runners at second and third with nobody out. An attempted fielder's choice play and a single added two more runs. Another single loaded the bases for Meghan Collins, who picked up an RBI a single to shallow center field. A second runner tried to score on the play, but was gunned down at the plate by Rains. A pair of strikeouts ended the inning.
The Boilermaker bats came to life in the fifth as the team piled up three runs on five hits to pull within two at 6-4. Junior Ashley Courtney and Burkhardt singled to start things off. Sophomore Tori Chiodo brought Courtney home with a double to left field and went to third on the throw home as Burkhardt was tagged out in a close play at the plate. Senior Molly Garst drove in Chiodo with a single to left. A wild pitch moved Garst to second, from which she scored on a Varsho single. A ground out and liner to the shortstop stranded Varsho at third.
Purdue added another run in the sixth inning. Junior Erika Petruzzi drew a one-out walk. Courtney reached on a catcher's interference call. A single up the middle by Burkhardt plated Petruzzi from second. A strikeout and fielder's choice play at third kept Purdue from knotting the score.
South Alabama added an insurance run in the seventh, capitalizing on two Purdue miscues. A pair of fielding errors gave the Jaguars runners at the corners with one out. A grounder to third base brought in the run from third.
The Boilermakers put two on in the final stanza, but could not score. Rains singled and stole second, before being joined by junior Maia Monchek, who drew a two-out walk. The Jaguar centerfielder made a diving grab to end the game.
Purdue (10-3) looks to get back on the winning track against Longwood at 11:15 a.m. Sunday.