Feb. 8, 2013
BATON ROUGE, La. - The Boilermaker softball team kicked off its 2013 season with a 4-0 win over Hampton at the LSU Tiger Classic on Friday afternoon. Purdue scored its four runs on eight hits, while allowing the Lady Pirates just five hits en route to the ninth season-opening win in program history and the fifth under head coach Kim Maher.
Senior Erika Petruzzi picked up the complete-game victory in the circle, including two strikeouts, while also helping the Boilermaker cause with a hit, a run and a school record-tying three stolen bases. The three-steal effort was the 22nd in program history and the first for Petruzzi.
Six different Boilermakers posted hits in the game, including two-hit outings by junior Andie Varsho and freshman Paris Andrew. Bobbi Langlois (0-1) suffered the loss for Hampton, giving up three runs on seven hits in six innings of work.
The Boilermakers got their first base runner as Petruzzi walked and stole second in the second inning, but could not scrape a run across.
Hampton managed two hits in the second, but a fielder's choice and a double play kept them off the scoreboard.
Purdue threatened again in the fourth as junior Danielle Fletcher doubled to the left field wall and Petruzzi picked up a single, diving in safely at first and pushing Fletcher to third. Petruzzi nabbed her second steal of the day to move into scoring position, but a grounder kept the game scoreless.
The Lady Pirates put three runners on in the fourth, but the Boilermaker defense held strong, stranding all three. A fielder's choice, a walk and a single filled the bases with two outs, but a grounder to first base kept the shutout intact.
The Boilers finally broke onto the scoreboard on a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Senior Maia Monchek led off with a single to right, but her runner was erased trying to take third on Andrew's bunt single. Junior Tori Chiodo followed with a single to second base to put two on for Purdue. The pair then pulled off a double steal, setting the table for junior Lindsey Rains, who came through with a sacrifice fly to deep center field.
Andrew came through in the clutch for the Boilers in the sixth, facing a full-count pitch with two outs and the bases juiced, driving a two RBI double through the right side to make it 3-0. Purdue had filled the bases on a Varsho single and walks to Petruzzi and Monchek. Varsho and Petruzzi also picked up steals in the inning before being joined on base by Monchek.
Purdue tacked on an insurance run in the seventh as sophomore Ashley Burkhardt drew a walk and swiped second before switching places with Varsho, who looped a double up the left field line. A wild pitch put junior Danielle Fletcher on base with a walk and moved Varsho to third, but unfortunately she was caught in a rundown between third and home for the inning's second out. Fletcher's pinch runner Mary Beth Pavlick went to third in the midst of the hoopla, but was left stranded by a fly out.
Petruzzi sat down the last seven Lady Pirates she faced in order, including a strikeout and two fly outs in the seventh, to clinch the victory for Purdue.
The Boilermakers return to action at 8 p.m. ET when they take on No. 10 LSU to wrap up Day 1 of the Tiger Classic.