March 29, 2013
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Boilermaker softball team topped Ohio State 4-2 on Friday to post its first win in Big Ten play and snap a nine-game losing streak. Purdue rapped out eight hits in the game, while also taking advantage of eight walks and two Buckeye miscues. Sophomore pitcher Lexy Moore (4-7) struck out four OSU batters and allowed just three hits in the complete game victory.
Junior Lindsey Rains led the Boilermaker bats with three hits and a walk in the contest, while junior Andie Varsho posted two hits. The Purdue batters faced two Buckeye pitchers in the game, putting up four runs on starter Alex DiDomenico (8-4), who lasted just an inning and a third, and tallying seven hits against reliever Melanie Nichols.
The Boilermakers scored two runs in the first on five walks and a Buckeye miscue. DiDomenico walked the first three Purdue batters, then issued a fourth walk after a strikeout to put the Boilers on the board. An errant throw home after a fly ball to right brought in the second run.
Purdue tacked on two more runs on a trio of hits and another OSU error in the second. An error gave the Boilermakers a leadoff base runner. Sophomore Ashley Burkhardt reached on a fielder's choice and stole second, setting the table for an RBI double by Rains. A single up the middle Varsho brought Rains in to score to make it 4-0. Junior Danielle Fletcher also had a single in the inning.
Ohio State got one run back in the third. A fielding error gave the Buckeyes a leadoff base runner. An illegal pitch and a single moved her to third, before a sacrifice fly put OSU on the board.
The Boilermakers loaded the bases with three straight singles from Burkhardt, Rains and Varsho in the fourth, but were unable to capitalize. A double play and a pop up left the bases full after senior Maia Monchek drew a two-out walk.
The Buckeyes got a leadoff single in the fifth, but Moore sat down the final nine batters she faced in order to cap the win.
Junior Tori Chiodo had a single in the fifth and Rains singled to start the sixth to round out the Boilermaker hits.
The Boilermakers (12-18, 1-3 Big Ten) will face off against the Buckeyes in Game 2 of the series at 2 p.m. Saturday.