April 12, 2012
MUNCIE, Ind. - The Boilermakers salvaged a doubleheader split with Ball State pulling off a seventh-inning rally to win Game 2 8-6 on Thursday.
Purdue plated its eight runs on eight hits, including a two-run triple by sophomore Tori Chiodo in the final stanza which accounted for the game winner. Sophomore Danielle Fletcher led the Boilermakers at the plate with two hits, both of which were home runs, tying her for the school game record.
Senior Katie Hackney (5-2) struck out six in the complete-game victory. Audrey Workman walked seven and struck out three in the loss for BSU.
Ball State to an early lead plating two runs in the first. An RBI single with two aboard scored the first run, while a double steal with runners at the corners accounted for the second.
Purdue got one run back on a leadoff home run by Fletcher in the second.
In the bottom of the second, the Cardinals took advantage of a leadoff walk with back-to-back triples and added a third run on a two-out fielding error to go up 5-1.
The Boilermakers narrowed the gap to one run with three scores on a trio of hits in the third. Sophomore Andie Varsho plated two of the runs with an RBI double, which brought in Chiodo, who drew a leadoff walk and sophomore Lindsey Rains, who had a one-out single. Fletcher walked and junior Ashley Courtney singled to fill the bases for junior Erika Petruzzi, who picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly to left. A fielder's choice kept Purdue from adding more to its tally.
Purdue got two free base runners with two outs in the fourth, but could not capitalize after senior Molly Garst was hit by a pitch and Rains walked.
Fletcher tied the score and the school game record for home runs with a solo shot to start the fifth inning.
Ball State regained the lead with an RBI single in the fifth. The hit by Audrey Bickel brought in a runner from third after a double and a ground out. The Cardinals loaded the bases with two more hits, but Hackney struck out the next batter to prevent any damage.
The Boilermakers scratched across three runs in the seventh to take an 8-6 lead. Fletcher drew a leadoff walk. Pinch runner Gabi Brown rounded the bases to tie the game on a Petruzzi single, a walk and a fielder's choice. With runners at the corners and two outs, sophomore Tori Chiodo came through with a clutch triple to left that spun away from the left fielder as two runs scored.
The Cardinals got a one-out single in the seventh, but Purdue recorded a fielder's choice out at second and Hackney struck out the final batter looking to cap the win.
The Boilermakers (25-13) return to action at 1 p.m. Saturday, when they take on Ohio State in a doubleheader. The twin bill at the Varsity Softball Complex has been deemed Black Out Day.