March 2, 2013
SAN MARCOS, Texas - The Boilermakers held Texas A&M - Corpus Christi to just two hits in a 7-0 win Saturday night to remain undefeated at the CenturyLink Classic and move to 10-9 on the season.
Purdue scored its seven runs on seven hits and three errors, while allowing the Islanders just two hits and an error in the game. Six different Boilers posted hits in the contest, led by Andie Varsho's 2-for-3 effort.
Freshman Lilly Fecho (5-4) picked up the win for Purdue, striking out five in five innings of relief work. Sophomore Alex Whittemore struck out two in the opening two innings. Bethany Slick (1-2) was saddled with the loss for Islanders, giving up seven runs in three and two thirds innings. Ashley Elicerio pitched the final two and a third innings for TAMCC.
The Boilers put up three runs on a hit and three errors in the first inning. Junior Lindsey Rains drew a one-out walk and stole second. A fielding error put junior Andie Varsho aboard, and gave Purdue runners at the corners. Varsho stole second and the second baseman dropped the throw down, allowing Rains to score. An error on a fly ball to right field plated Varsho and put junior Danielle Fletcher on second. A couple of walks filled the basepaths for junior Tori Chiodo, who delivered on the RBI opportunity with a single to the shortstop. A pop up finally ended the rally at 3-0.
The Islanders had two base runners in the second after a walk and an error, but the Boilermaker defense held and escaped unscathed.
Varsho added a second-inning double and stole third, but was left stranded.
Fecho took over in the circle with a runner on first and nobody out in the third, but retired the next three batters to prevent an Islander rally. She then picked up her first collegiate hit with a one-out single up the middle in the bottom of the inning.
Purdue brought in four runs on four hits in the fourth to go up 7-0. Freshman Mary Gooding and sophomore Ashley Burkhardt registered back-to-back triples to bring in the first run. A squeeze bunt by Rains brought Burkhardt home. Rains then stole second and went to third on a bunt single by Varsho. Varsho swiped second to put two in scoring position for senior Erika Petruzzi, who made good on the RBI chance, plating both with a double to right center. Walks to Fecho and freshman CJ Parsons filled the bases, prompting a pitching change for the Islanders. A fielder's choice play at third base kept the Boilers from adding to the 7-0 lead.
Texas A&M - Corpus Christi snapped the no-hit bid with a two-out single up the middle in the fifth.
The Boilermakers earned three free passes in the fifth, but could not push a run across. Burkhardt drew a leadoff walk, but was caught stealing second. Varsho and freshman Sydney Pencek added two out walks, but a ground out left them on base at inning's end.
The Islanders wasted a one-out single in the sixth and the Boilers couldn't get anything going in the inning, bringing TAMCC to the plate for the final stanza.
Fecho shut down the Islanders in the seventh, save a one-out walk, striking out the final batter to seal the win.
The Boilermakers (10-9) wrap up the CenturyLink Classic with an 11 a.m. ET game against Texas State.