March 23, 2013
ANN ARBOR, Mich. - The Boilermakers held a 5-0 lead going into the third inning, but the Michigan bats caught fire to the tune of 13 runs on 13 hits over the next four stanzas to steal away a 13-5 win.
Purdue scored its five runs on eight hits, including two hit days by juniors Lindsey Rains and Andie Varsho. Haylie Wagner went four innings for the Wolverines, striking out two, but Sara Driesenga (18-5) picked up the win, holding the Boilermaker offense at bay in the final two innings. Freshman Lexy Moore (3-7) was charged with the loss for Purdue after throwing the first four and two thirds innings. Sophomore Alex Whittemore and senior Erika Petruzzi also saw time in the circle for the Boilermakers.
Purdue jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning, combining a trio of hits for the scores, while also taking advantage of an illegal pitch by the Michigan hurler. Sophomore Ashley Burkhardt started things off by lifting a double to the warning track in left. Varsho pushed her to third with a bunt single. Varsho swiped second to put two runners in scoring position for junior Danielle Fletcher. Fletcher picked up one RBI, bouncing a ground ball to third base to bring Burkhardt home. Varsho went to third on the play then trotted home as Wagner was charged with an illegal pitch. Senior Maia Monchek also reached base with a single in the inning, but was left stranded.
Purdue tacked on three more runs with a two-out rally in the second. Junior Tori Chiodo drew a two-out walk and went to third on a passed ball and wild pitch, before scoring on a fielding error by the shortstop that put Burkhardt on base. Rains pushed Burkhardt home, bouncing a triple off the top of the wall in right center. Varsho made it 5-0 Boilers with an RBI single up the middle that plated Rains. A ground ball to the pitcher finally ended the inning.
The Wolverines scored a run with a two-out rally of its own in the bottom of the third. A single and a hit batsman gave Michigan base runners. A single to left field put UM on the board.
The Boilermakers managed two hits in the fourth, but could not add a run. Chiodo tallied a one-out single, but was out on a fielder's choice the next play. Purdue had runners at first and third soon after, however, as Rains added her second hit of the game. A ground ball to the pitcher kept the score 5-1.
Michigan plated two runs on a double to the right center gap in the fourth. The RBI hit came with two outs and two runners on after a hit batsman and a single.
The Wolverines scored six runs on five hits and two Purdue miscues in the fifth to take a 9-5 lead. A solo home run by Sierra Romero accounted for the first score. A walk followed by three singles and a sacrifice fly put Michigan on top. After a pitching change, a walk filled the bases and a single to left coupled with a throwing error brought in three more runs. A fly ball finally ended the inning.
Michigan wrapped up the game with a four-run, four-hit inning in the sixth. A single and a walk prompted a Purdue pitching change. A single down the right field line spelled trouble for the Boilermakers as the lead runner came home on a fielding miscue. A double to left center brought in two more runs. A wild pitch moved the runner to third, from which she scored on a single to second base to end the game.