April 3, 2012
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Boilermaker softball team polished off the IUPUI Jaguars 9-1 in a five-inning mercy rule victory to garner their eighth straight win.
Purdue scored nine runs on eight hits, including three doubles, two triples and a home run, as well as three Jaguar miscues. IUPUI managed its one run on two hits and two Boilermaker errors. Senior Molly Garst and freshman Ashley Burkhardt tallied two hits apiece to lead the Purdue bats.
Freshman Alex Whittemore (3-3) went the distance for the Boilermakers, striking out five batters and allowing just two hits in the victory. Nikki Thomas (3-12) was charged with the loss for IUPUI after allowing four runs in two thirds of an inning. Emili Escamilla and Jocelyn Oppenhuis also saw action for the Jaguars, with Oppenhuis tossing the final three innings.
The Boilermakers flexed their offensive muscles early in the game, taking advantage of the Jaguar pitchers for six runs on five hits and an error in the first inning. Garst singled and scored without help from her teammates, stealing second and then third before scoring as the catcher's throw on the second steal sailed into left field. The Boilermakers tacked on three more runs on a home run by junior Erika Petruzzi, which scored sophomore Danielle Fletcher, who tapped a two-out double to left field, and junior Ashley Courtney, who walked. The long ball prompted Escamilla to enter the game to pitch for IUPUI, but she could not stop the Purdue offensive barrage. Sophomore Kristin Morgan walked and scored on Burkhardt's triple to left. Burkhardt came in to score as sophomore Tori Chiodo sent a double up the right field line. A pop up to the pitcher finally ended the rally, which saw Purdue bat through the order.
IUPUI got a leadoff walk in the second, but a fielder's choice play and a highlight-reel caliber double play ended the inning. With a runner at first, sophomore center fielder Lindsey Rains made a diving snag in centerfield and fired over to first base to finish off the play.
Purdue took advantage of Jaguar miscues for a run in the second after Oppenhuis took over in the circle for IUPUI. Rains reached on a fielding error by the second baseman. She then stole second and went to third on a wild pitch. Courtney drew a two-out walk, before Rains was allowed to score on an obstruction call against the third baseman. A strikeout left Courtney stranded.
The Jaguars scored their lone run on two hits and an error in the third. Jessica Lam led off with a double to right center. A two-out fielding error moved Lam to third, from which she scored on an infield single. The Boilermakers prevented further damage by catching the trail runner trying to advance to third on the play.
The Boilermakers combined a single, a double and a triple for a pair of scores in the third inning. Burkhardt reached on a one-out bunt single and scored on a double to right center by Garst. A Varsho triple to left center brought Burkhardt home to make it 9-1. A pop up kept Varsho from scoring.
IUPUI got a pair of base runners in the fourth, but the Purdue defense caught one stealing and pulled off a double play to erase the other.
The Jaguars put a runner on in the fifth, but failed to score, invoking the mercy-rule. A fielder's choice erased a leadoff walk, then a strikeout and ground ball to second base capped the game.
Purdue (23-9) returns to action at 4 p.m. Thursday when the Notre Dame Fighting Irish come to the Varsity Softball Complex for a single game.