April 21, 2012
URBANA, Ill. - Missed opportunities cost the Boilermakers in a 3-1 loss to Illinois in Game 1 of Saturday's doubleheader. Purdue stranded nine runners, including six in scoring position, but avoided the shutout with a run in the seventh inning.
The Boilermakers managed its one run on five hits and an error, while allowing the Illini three runs on six hits and two errors. Freshman Lexy Moore went the distance for Purdue, striking out one, while Pepper Gay picked up the complete game win for Illinois, including seven Ks.
The Boilermakers threatened in the first inning, but stranded runners at the corners. Sophomore Lindsey Rains drew a one-out walk, stole second and went to third on a ground out, before being joined by sophomore Danielle Fletcher, who drew a two-out free pass. A fly ball to left ended the inning.
The Illini combined a hit and an error for a score in the bottom of the first. A double gave the team a base runner. A two-out throwing error allowed the run.
Purdue threatened again in the second, loading the bases with a pair of hits and a hit batsman, but were unable to cash in. Freshman Ashley Burkhardt sent a two-out single up the middle. Sophomore Tori Chiodo followed with an infield single and senior Molly Garst was pegged in the knee to fill the bases. A strikeout kept the Boilermakers off the scoreboard.
Meredith Hackett made it 3-0 Illini with a two-run home run in the third. Illinois managed a leadoff single before the two-out long ball.
Junior Maia Monchek drew a one-out walk in the fourth, but the Boilermakers could not bring her home.
Illinois got two hits in the fourth, but Fletcher picked off the first runner and two ground outs stranded the second.
The Boilermakers filled the bases in the sixth, but stranded all three runners with a strikeout and fly out. Junior Ashley Courtney drew a one-out walk. Junior Erika Petruzzi reached on a fielding error by the shortstop and Monchek singled to right to load the bases to no avail.
Purdue avoided the shutout, picking up two hits and stranding a runner at second as the game closed. Garst started the inning with diving into first safely with an infield single. She stole second and went to third on a ground out. A single up the middle by sophomore Andie Varsho put the Boilermakers on the scoreboard. Varsho swiped second, but was left stranded by a pair of strikeouts.
The Boilermakers (27-14, 9-3 Big Ten) look to split the doubleheader with a Game 2 victory. The game airs live on BTN.com.