April 25, 2012
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermaker softball team rallied late against Loyola, but fell short in a 3-1 contest on Wednesday. The teams battled through an hour and 43 minute rain/lightning delay before finishing the contest, which was halted just two innings in.
Loyola managed its three runs on nine hits and an error, while allowing Purdue one run on six hits. The Boilermakers stranded seven runners in the game, including five in scoring position.
Brittany Gardner (15-8) struck out six in the complete-game victory for Loyola. Freshman Lexy Moore (19-8) took the loss for Purdue, despite striking out five in three innings of work. Senior Katie Hackney struck out two and allowed just three hits in four innings of relief.
The Ramblers plated two runs in the first inning combining a trio of hits with a Boilermaker miscue. A leadoff double and a single put runners at the corners to start the game. The trail runner, Jessica Balzano, stole second, but the Boilermakers threw down to third to keep the lead runner from advancing and missed the connection allowing a score. Balzano came home on a deep single to the shortstop. Moore registered three strikeouts in the inning to avoid further damage.
The Boilermakers got a base runner in the first as sophomore Andie Varsho walked and stole second, but she was left stranded at inning's end.
Junior Maia Monchek sent a two-out single into left center in the second inning for Purdue's first hit. Lightning then signaled the start of an hour and 43 minute rain delay. The first batter after the break flew out to left field to end the inning.
Loyola made it 3-0 with a pair of two-out extra-base hits in the third. A Lauren Arceneaux triple set up the RBI double by Lauren Zaworski. A strikeout left Zaworski stranded.
Junior Ashley Courtney lifted a leadoff triple to right to open the fourth, but the Boilermakers could not bring her home as a pair of strikeouts and a pop up ended the stanza.
Purdue stranded two more runners in the fifth as sophomore Tori Chiodo singled and senior Molly Garst walked with two outs. A ground ball to the shortstop kept the Boilermakers off the scoreboard.
The Boilermakers snapped the shutout with a run on two hits in the sixth. Sophomore Lindsey Rains posted a one-out single and stole second. Sophomore Danielle Fletcher followed with a walk and was pinch run for by Gabi Brown. Junior Erika Petruzzi lifted a double to the center field wall. Rains scored, but Brown was tagged out sliding into the plate. Petruzzi advanced to third on the throw home, but was left stranded by a deep fly ball.
Garst kept hope alive for Purdue with a two-out single through the left side. She then stole second, but a ground ball to the pitcher ended the game.
Purdue (28-16) returns to action at 1 p.m. Saturday when the team faces Wisconsin in a doubleheader. It is Cancer Awareness Day at the Varsity Softball Complex. Fans are encouraged to wear pink to support the cause. The Boilermakers wrap up their home season on Senior Day Sunday in the series finale against the Badgers.