March 31, 2013
COLUMBUS, Ohio - The Boilermaker softball team went extra innings for the second straight day against Ohio State, but this time, the Buckeyes came out on top 5-3 courtesy of a pair of two-out home runs in the 10th inning.
Purdue scored its three runs on six hits and two errors. Sophomore Ashley Burkhardt supplied two hits, but the Boilermakers stranded nine runners in the game, including two in the final stanza. Ohio State managed its five runs on nine hits, including three home runs.
Relief pitcher Olivia O'Reilly (4-2) picked up the win for Ohio State after throwing the final eight and two thirds innings. Freshman Lilly Fecho was saddled with the loss for Purdue, despite striking out a season-best nine batters in eight and two thirds innings of relief work. Sophomore Lexy Moore started the game and reentered in the 10th to record the final out.
The Buckeyes struck first, putting up two runs on three hits in the opening stanza. A bunt single and a double set up a one-out RBI single to left center, which made it 2-0.
The Boilermakers got one run back in the bottom of the first. Burkhardt started the stanza with a single, but was out on a fielder's choice play that put junior Lindsey Rains aboard. Rains swiped second before being joined on base by junior Andie Varsho, who walked. A ground ball moved the pair into scoring position. A wild pitch allowed Rains to score.
Purdue tied the game at 2-2 with a run on a hit and an error in the second. Senior Erika Petruzzi doubled off the center field wall to start the inning, then was joined on base by freshman Mary Gooding and junior Tori Chiodo, who were each hit by a pitch. A throwing error by the shortstop on a fielder's choice play at the plate allowed Petruzzi to score. The Buckeyes recovered to stop Gooding from scoring and later forced a ground out to end the stanza.
The teams traded blows in the fifth inning as each scored on a leadoff home run. Taylor Watkins did the damage for the Buckeyes, while Burkhardt launched her first long ball of the season to tie the game for Purdue.
The Boilermakers had a chance to score in the sixth, loading the bases on a fielder's choice and a pair of walks, but a fielder's choice play kept the tie intact. Senior Maia Monchek started the inning with a single, but was out on a fielder's choice that put Petruzzi aboard. Petruzzi went to second on a sacrifice. Walks to pinch hitter CJ Parsons and Chiodo filled the basepaths, but a fielder's choice play at second base ended the rally.
A pair of solo home runs by Evelyn Carrillo and Maddy McIntyre gave OSU a 5-3 lead in the 10th inning.
Purdue kept hope alive, putting two runners on in the bottom of the 10th as Rains and Varsho singled to start the inning. A fly out, a fielder's choice and a line drive to the shortstop cut the rally short and ended the game.
The Boilermakers (13-19, 2-4 Big Ten) return to action at 4 p.m. Wednesday when they take on IUPUI in Indianapolis.