March 22, 2013
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Boilermaker softball team could not overcome a trio of Michigan long balls in a 9-0 loss to the No. 14 Wolverines to open conference play on Friday.
Michigan scored its nine runs on nine hits and an error, while the Boilermakers managed four hits.
Sara Driesenga (17-5) struck out seven in the complete-game victory. Freshman Lilly Fecho (5-9) struck out two in the loss for the Boilermakers. Sophomore Alex Whittemore added another strikeout after coming in to pitch the fourth inning.
Sophomore Ashley Burkhardt led off the game with a single through the right side, but was later caught stealing, nullifying Purdue's scoring chance.
The Wolverines put up three runs in the bottom of the inning on a home run by Sierra Romero. The long ball plated two runners, who had reached on a hit by pitch and a bunt single.
Michigan tacked on another run on two hits in the second. A leadoff single, a sacrifice and a single put runners at the corners. A fielder's choice play at second base allowed the run to score.
The Wolverines put together three hits and an error in the third to go up 7-0. With runners at the corners after two singles and a sacrifice, Michigan swiped second and scored a run on a fielding error at second base. A two-run home run by Caitlin Blanchard accounted for the other two scores.
The Boilermakers had the bases loaded with two outs in the fourth after a trio of singles, but a strikeout kept them from breaking onto the scoreboard. Junior Lindsey Rains poked a one-out single through the right side. Junior Danielle Fletcher and senior Maia Monchek joined her on base, bouncing two-out singles through the left side.
Michigan went up 9-0 in the fourth on another home run by Romero, this time a two-run shot. The hit followed a single and a fielder's choice play, which accounted for the second out of the inning. A strikeout ended the stanza.
Purdue went down in order in the fifth to end the game.
The Boilermakers (11-16) look to rebound on Saturday, when they face off with the Wolverines in a noon doubleheader.