Feb. 23, 2013
COLLEGE STATION, Texas - No. 10 Texas A&M topped the Boilermaker softball team 6-1 on Saturday, preventing Purdue from avenging Friday night's loss to the Aggies.
Texas A&M scored its six runs on nine hits and two errors, while allowing Purdue a run on seven hits and an error. Sophomore Ashley Burkhardt and junior Andie Varsho tallied two hits apiece to lead the Boilermaker bats.
Mel Dumezich (9-0) picked up the complete game win for the Aggies, while sophomore Lexy Moore struck out seven in the losing bid for the Boilermakers.
Burkhardt gave Purdue its first hit with a one-out single in the first inning, but was left stranded.
The Aggies put up two runs on three hits and an error in the bottom of the stanza. The leadoff batter laid down a bunt single, but made it to third on the play as no one was covering the bag on the throw to first. A two-out triple by Cassie Tysarczyk scored the runner from third. A single up the middle made it 2-0. A caught foul ball with two runners aboard ended the inning.
Senior Erika Petruzzi was hit by a pitch to start the second inning and was sacrificed over to second, but could not score.
The Boilermakers got one run back in the third, taking advantage of a pair of hits and a Texas A&M miscue. Freshman Mary Gooding laid down a bunt single and wound up at third as the pitcher's throw to first sailed into right field. Gooding came home on a Burkhardt single to left center. Burkhardt advanced to third after an Andie Varsho single and a stolen base, but a liner to the shortstop and strikeout kept Purdue from adding to its tally.
Texas A&M strung together a walk and two doubles for a pair of runs in the third. A walk and a double put runners at second and third for Amber Garza, who picked up two RBI with a double up the right field line. A single to right field brought Garza home from second to make it 5-1 Aggies.
Varsho singled to center field to start the sixth and swiped second to set up an RBI opportunity, but her teammates could not drive her home. A ground out and two strikeouts prevented the score.
The Aggies added an insurance run in the sixth, capitalizing on a three-base Boilermaker miscue. The throwing error gave Texas A&M a runner at third. A single to right brought her home.
Trailing 6-1 heading into the seventh inning, the Boilermakers looked to rally. Senior Ashley Courtney started the stanza with a single to center field. Rains managed a two-out single, but a ground out capped the game.
The Boilermakers (6-8) wrap up their stay in College Station with an 11 a.m. ET Sunday game against UTSA.