March 4, 2012
KISSIMMEE, Fla. - The Boilermaker softball team ended its time at the Citrus Classic on a positive note with an 8-0 mercy-rule win over Longwood, Sunday morning, thanks in part to a stellar pitching effort by rookie Lexy Moore.
Moore struck out six and allowed just three hits in the contest, while moving to 7-1 on the season. Libby Morris was saddled with the loss for the Lancers.
Purdue scored its eight runs on eight hits and two Lancer errors. Junior Ashley Courtney and sophomores Andie Varsho and Lindsey Rains tallied two hits apiece to lead the Boilermaker bats.
The Boilermakers took advantage of Longwood's struggles in the first inning, putting up four runs on a hit and two errors. Morris also walked three and hit two batters in the stanza. Purdue put its first two runners aboard on an error and a single, but both were called for leaving first base early on steal attempts. With two outs, Rains drew a leadoff walk, starting the Lancer pitching woes. Sophomore Danielle Fletcher and junior Maia Monchek were then hit by pitches to fill the bases. Courtney picked up an RBI with a walk. A dropped fly ball in left field, cleared the bases , making in 4-0 and putting junior Erika Petruzzi aboard. Freshman Ashley Burkhardt also received a free pass, but a ground out kept Purdue from adding to its lead.
Purdue combined a trio of hits for two runs in the second inning. Rains started things off again with a two-out double to right and went to third on a wild pitch. Fletcher walked, then Monchek sent a single into left. Rains scored on the hit, while Fletcher moved to third. Courtney brought Fletcher home with a ground-rule double to right center. A ground out left two stranded.
Longwood managed its first hit with a dribbler through the infield, but the defense held.
The Boilermakers added single runs in the third and fourth to make it 8-0. In the third, the team combined a double by sophomore Tori Chiodo and a single from Varsho. In the fourth, it was a Rains double and a ground out that accounted for the score.
Freshman Alyssa Koorsen drew a one-out walk in the fifth, but could not score.
The Lancers brought five pinch hitters to the plate in the bottom of the fifth. The second batter, Leigh Sexton sent a one-out double into center field. The next batter followed with a single. With runners at first and third, Moore sat down the next two Lancers with strikeouts to clinch the game.
The Boilermakers (11-3) return to action on Saturday, March 10, when they will have a rematch with Oregon at the Bayer Cropscience Classic in Fresno, Calif.