Feb. 9, 2013
BATON ROUGE, La. - The Purdue softball team wrapped up Day 2 of the LSU Tiger Classic with a 4-1 loss to Tulsa. The Boilermakers finish out their stay in Baton Rouge, La., with a Sunday rematch with the Golden Hurricane.
Tulsa scored its four runs on seven hits and an error, while holding the Boilermakers to a run on four hits and an error. Sophomore Ashley Burkhardt went 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored to lead the Purdue bats.
Aimee Creger (2-0) went the distance in the circle for the Golden Hurricane, while the Boilermakers used three hurlers in the contest. Senior Erika Petruzzi was charged with the loss, giving up a run on two hits in the middle third of the game. Sophomore Alex Whittemore threw two innings before giving way to Petruzzi, while freshman Lilly Fecho pitched the final three stanzas. The group combined to strike out five Tulsa batters.
Tulsa struck first with a run on two hits in the opening stanza. A leadoff single, a double and a walk loaded the bases with one out, but a throwing error with two outs allowed the run to squeak across. A grounder to second base prevented further damage.
The Boilermakers had runners at the corners in the bottom of the inning, but couldn't tie it up. Junior Lindsey Rains drew a leadoff walk and swiped second. Senior Erika Petruzzi joined her on base with a walk, but was out at second on a fielder's choice the following play. A fly ball stranded the runners.
Purdue combined a pair of hits for a game-tying score in the second inning. Junior Andie Varsho doubled to left field and sped home, beating the throw after sophomore Ashley Burkhardt legged-out a two-out RBI single to third base.
Tulsa started the third with a single and a walk, spelling a pitching change for Purdue, and despite a sacrifice bunt moving the pair into scoring position, the Boilermaker defense held.
The Golden Hurricane took a 2-1 lead on a pair of hits in the fourth. A leadoff single and a sacrifice moved Julie Kernen into scoring position, setting the table for a Haley Henshaw RBI single to right.
The Boilermakers had runners in scoring position in the fifth and sixth, but failed to capitalize. Burkhardt singled and was sacrificed over to second to no avail in the fifth. In the sixth, freshman Paris Andrew reached on an error and sophomore Gabi Brown singled, before a wild pitch moved the pair into scoring position with two outs, but a strikeout prevented a score.
Tulsa tacked on a pair of insurance runs on two hits and a ground out in the seventh. The Golden Hurricane combined a single and a triple for the first score and drove in the second with a ground ball to the shortstop.
Rains drew a two-out walk to give Purdue hope in the seventh, but a pop up to the shortstop capped the game.
The Boilermakers (1-3) return to action at 10 a.m. ET when they will face off with Tulsa again to conclude the LSU Tiger Classic.(Note: the game was originally scheduled for 11 a.m. ET but has been moved up due to the threat of inclement weather.)