March 1, 2013
SAN MARCOS, Texas - The Boilermaker softball team took advantage of a Texas State miscue with bases loaded in the eighth inning to secure a 4-3 win over the host Bobcats Friday night.
Freshman Lilly Fecho struck out five batters in the complete-game win, while Rayn House (0-6) was saddled with the loss for Texas State after two and a third innings of relief work. Starter Delia Saucedo was pulled after facing just three Boilermaker batters and her reliever Ashley Wright went five and a third innings, allowing just five hits.
Purdue scored its four runs on 10 hits and two errors, and allowed the Bobcats three runs on seven hits and two errors. Junior Andie Varsho led the Boilermaker bats, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run. Junior Lindsey Rains posted two hits, a run and an RBI.
The Boilermakers escaped an early jam, forcing Texas State to strand a runner at third in the opening stanza after an error put the leadoff batter aboard.
Purdue put up two quick runs in the bottom of the inning, capitalizing on a pair of hits and an error. A muffed throw put sophomore Ashley Burkhardt on second to start the stanza for the Boilermakers. Rains brought her in with a single up the right field line. Rains then swiped second, before rounding the bases on a Varsho single up the middle to make it 2-0 Boilers.
Texas State got one run back in the third, tallying an unearned run on a hit and an error. A two-out single and a steal put a runner on second for the Bobcats. A throwing error allowed the run to come in from second, but the Boilermakers prevented further damaging recovering from the miscue to put the batter out at second base.
The Boilermakers loaded the bases in the third, but could not push a run across. Freshman Mary Gooding reached on a bunt single and was sacrificed over to second. Rains walked and the pair pulled off a double steal, before senior Erika Petruzzi filled the empty spot at first. A ground ball to second base capped the inning.
The Bobcats tied it up at 2-2 stringing together a trio of singles in the fourth. A single to left center and another to shallow center field set up an RBI single by Anna Hernandez that landed just inside the right field line.
Purdue had a scoring opportunity in the sixth, but could not convert it. Varsho reached on an infield single and was sacrificed over to second. Senior Maia Monchek followed with a single to right center to put runners at the corners. Pinch runner MaryBeth Pavlick stole second to put two in scoring position, but a strikeout and pop up ended the threat.
Neither team could manage a run in the seventh bringing on extra innings and the international tie-breaker rule.
After the runner was placed on second to start the eighth, Texas State sacrificed her over to third then filled the bases with an infield single and a walk. A sacrifice fly made it 3-2 Bobcats, before another fly out brought the Boilers to the plate.
Burkhardt started the inning on second base for the Boilermakers. A bunt single by Rains moved her to third, then a comebacker at the pitcher off the bat of Varsho brought her home. A bunt single by Petruzzi filled the bases with nobody out. After a fielder's choice play at the plate, an error on the shortstop brought in the game winner as Varsho came in to score.
The Boilermakers (8-9) return to action at 11 a.m. ET when they take on North Texas.