March 12, 2013
HUNTSVILLE, Texas - The Boilermakers scored first in both games of Tuesday's softball doubleheader with Sam Houston State, but it was the Bearkats that came out on top, taking wins of 5-2 and 3-2.
Sophomore Ashley Burkhardt had four hits on the day to lead the Boilermaker bats, but could not prevent the comeback wins.
The Boilermakers (11-14) wrap up their spring break trip through Texas with a Thursday game against Houston.
Sam Houston State 5, Purdue 2
The Boilermakers scored first in Game 1 of Tuesday's doubleheader with Sam Houston State, but couldn't hold off the Bearkats in a 5-2 loss.
Purdue managed its two runs on six hits, including three by sophomore Ashley Burkhardt, while SHSU plated five runs on 10 hits and two Boilermaker miscues.
Shelby Lancaster (7-4) struck out three in the win for the Bearkats, while freshman Lilly Fecho (5-7) issued two Ks in the loss for Purdue. Sophomore Alex Whittemore threw the final inning for the Boilers.
Purdue jumped on the scoreboard with a run on two hits in the first. Sophomore Ashley Burkhardt led off with a high bouncing single through the left side. Burkhardt stole second and was sacrificed over to third. She then slid around a tag at the plate on a fielder's choice play to pick up the run. Purdue loaded the bases with two outs as junior Danielle Fletcher and senior Maia Monchek were hit by pitches and senior Ashley Courtney added a sharp single back to the pitcher. A fielder's choice play at third, however, kept the Boilers from adding to their lead.
Sam Houston State plated two runs on three hits and an error in the third to take the lead. The leadoff batter singled, went to second on a throwing error and headed to third on a ground out. With runners at first and third after a hit batsman, two more singles to the outfield brought in the runs.
Freshman Mary Gooding drew a two-out walk in the fourth, but was left stranded.
The Bearkats tacked on another run in the fourth, combining a double, a single and a wild pitch to go up 3-1.
The Boilermakers got one run back in the fifth. Burkhardt tallied her third hit of the day, a single up the middle to start the stanza. She was sacrificed to second and swiped third, before heading home as the catcher's throw to third sailed into left field.
SHSU added two insurance runs in the fifth on a trio of hits. A single gave the Bearkats a baserunner. A double to the right field wall plated the run and put the batter on third after the throw home. A single through the right side made it 5-2.
The Bearkats stranded a runner at third in the sixth inning, bringing Purdue to the plate one last time. Freshman CJ Parsons poked a one-out single through the right side. A fielder's choice play got pinch runner Tori Chiodo at second, but put Burkhardt aboard. Junior Lindsey Rains added a single, but a ground ball to the pitch cut the Boilermaker rally short.
SHSU 3, Purdue 2
The Boilermakers held a 2-1 lead heading into the seventh inning, but a two-run walkoff home run gave Sam Houston State the doubleheader sweep with a 3-2 win.
Purdue managed two runs on three hits, including a solo home run by junior Andie Varsho, but allowed the Bearkats three runs on seven hits.
Meme Quinn (2-3) went the distance for SHSU, striking out 11 Boilermakers, while sophomore Lexy Moore issued eight Ks in the loss for Purdue.
The Boilermakers scored care of a couple of SHSU miscues in the first inning. Sophomore Ashley Burkhardt reached on an error to start the game. She went to third on a wild pitch and scored on a sacrifice fly by junior Andie Varsho.
SHSU stranded a runner at third in the second inning after a single, a passed ball and a steal.
Purdue had runners on base in the third, fourth and fifth, but could not add to its 1-0 lead. Burkhardt got a two-out single in the third and Parsons drew a two-out walk in the fourth, but the Boilermakers couldn't bring them home. A single up the middle by junior Lauren Grant and a fielder's choice sacrifice by freshman Mary Gooding put two on for the Boilers to start the fifth, but two strikeouts and a pop up left the game at 1-0.
Varsho doubled the Boilermaker advantage in the sixth, leading off with a solo shot to left center.
The Bearkats returned the favor in the bottom of the inning, pulling within one on a leadoff home run to right by Tori Benavidez.
The Boilermakers went down in order in the seventh, leaving the door open for the Bearkats.
Sam Houston State got a one-out single, which set up the gamewinner, a walkoff two-run shot off the scoreboard by Shelbi Tucker.