May 5, 2012
MINNEAPOLIS - Two home runs in the fourth inning lifted Minnesota to a 5-3 win over the Purdue softball team in Game 1 on Saturday. The Boilermakers led 3-1 heading into the stanza.
Purdue scored its three runs on eight hits and two errors, while allowing the Gophers five runs on nine hits. Junior Erika Petruzzi and freshman Ashley Burkhardt led the Boilermaker bats with two apiece, while sophomore Tori Chiodo had three RBI in the contest. Purdue stranded seven runners in the game, including five in scoring position.
Sara Moulton (23-13) struck out eight in the victory for Minnesota, while freshman Lexy Moore (20-9) was saddled with the loss for Purdue. Moore struck out one in three innings of work, while junior Erika Petruzzi tossed the final three innings of relief.
The Boilermakers got a two-out base runner in the first as sophomore Lindsey Rains reached on a fielding error by the shortstop, but could not bring her home.
Purdue threatened in the second, putting runners at second and third, but could not score. Sophomore Danielle Fletcher was hit by a pitch to start the stanza, but was out at second as junior Maia Monchek reached on a fielder's choice. A two-out single to left by Burkhardt and a fielding error pushed Burkhardt and Monchek into scoring position, but a ground ball to first base kept the score tied at 0-0.
Minnesota combined a pair of hits for a run in the third, after stranding runners in scoring position in the first two innings. A triple off the left field wall by Tyler Walker made good on a leadoff single. A fielder's choice play at the plate and a pair of grounders kept it at 1-0.
The Boilermakers loaded the bases in the fourth on a trio of hits and cashed in as sophomore Tori Chiodo lifted a triple to the left field wall to make it 3-1 Purdue. The full-count, two-out hit brought in Petruzzi, Monchek and Burkhardt. Petruzzi and Monchek singled and Burkhardt reached on a fielder's choice play at the plate. Junior Ashley Courtney also had a single to lead off the inning.
A pair of home runs in the bottom of the fourth put the Gophers back on top 5-3. A three-run shot by Dannie Skrove capitalized on a walk and hit by pitch. After a Boilermaker pitching change, Erika Smyth tacked on another run with a solo shot to center field. Purdue got a ground out and turned a double play to end the inning.
Petruzzi and Monchek tallied hits for the Boilermakers in the sixth, with singles up the middle and the right field line respectively, putting runners at the corners with two outs. A ground ball to third base kept Purdue from adding any runs.
Senior Molly Garst led off the seventh with an infield single. A fielder's choice play at second base, a ground ball to third base and a diving snag on a liner to second base prevented a Boilermaker comeback.
Game 2 of the doubleheader was pushed back to a 7 p.m. ET start due to rain in the area.