Feb. 15, 2013
TUCSON, Ariz. - The Boilermaker softball team tallied program win No. 600, edging Utah State 2-1 to begin its stay at the Hillenbrand Invitational on Friday afternoon. Purdue scored the go-ahead run in the fifth inning and the defense held off the Aggies the final two stanzas to secure the victory.
Freshman Lilly Fecho (1-1) picked up her first collegiate win, striking out two batters in a complete-game effort. Mandy Harmon went the distance for Utah State, striking out eight Boilermakers in the loss.
Purdue scored its two runs on seven hits, while allowing Utah State a run on seven hits. Senior Maia Monchek led the Boilermaker bats with a 2-for-2 effort.
The Boilermakers got a pair of base runners in the second, but couldn't bring them home. Junior Danielle Fletcher led off the inning, tattooing a double up the left field line. Monchek joined her on base when she was hit by a pitch with two outs. A fielder's choice play at second base ended the rally.
Utah State threatened in the third, but the Boilermaker defense held. A leadoff double and a two-out bunt single put runners at the corners, but a grounder to the shortstop kept the shutout intact.
Junior Andie Varsho supplied a two-out single in the third, but she was left stranded by a strikeout.
The Aggies broke through in the fourth with a two-out solo home run by Mandy Harmon.
Purdue answered in the bottom of the inning, tying the score on an RBI single through the left side by Monchek. The hit drove in sophomore Ashley Burkhardt from third. A fielder's choice, stolen base and ground out set the table for the RBI.
The Boilermakers scored the game winner in the fifth inning, capitalizing on a pair of walks with an RBI single by Burkhardt. Varsho drew a one-out walk and stole second, before Fletcher joined her with a walk. Burkhardt then made good on the scoring chance, lacing a single into centerfield to plate the run. Fletcher was out on the play after being caught in a rundown being second and third.
Utah State wasted a leadoff double in the sixth, stranding the runner at third after a fly out, pop up and ground out.
Purdue threatened to break the game open in the sixth, loading the bases, but could not add to its lead. Monchek posted her second hit of the day, a one-out single through the right side to get things started. Pinch runner Sydney Pencek went to second as freshman Paris Andrew was walked. Junior Lindsey Rains was hit by a pitch with two outs to fill the bases, but a strikeout brought Utah State to the plate one last time.
The Aggies went down in order on a pop up, a fly out and a grounder to third to cap the historic win for the Boilermakers.
Purdue (3-3) returns to action at 10 p.m. ET when the team faces off with Drake to wrap up Day 1 in Tucson.