April 26, 2013
EVANSTON, Ill. - The Boilermakers owned a 4-2 lead through five and a half innings, but a four-run sixth inning rally by the Northwestern softball team stole away the game and gave Purdue a 6-4 loss.
The Boilermakers scored four runs on five hits and two errors, while Northwestern managed its six runs on six hits and three Purdue miscues. Five different players tallied hits for the Boilermakers.
Amy Letourneau (18-10) struck out nine batters in the complete-game victory for Northwestern, while sophomore Lexy Moore (10-11) issued three strikeouts in the loss for Purdue. Freshman Lilly Fecho struck out two in two thirds of an inning of relief work for the Boilers.
Junior Andie Varsho gave Purdue its first hit lifting a two-out single into shallow center field in the opening stanza. A ground ball to the shortstop left her stranded.
The Boilers left a runner in scoring position in the second. Freshman Paris Andrew was hit by pitch and went to second on a ground ball, but left stranded by a strikeout.
After stranding a runner at second in the opening stanza, a two-out triple gave Northwestern a scoring chance in the second, but Moore struck out the next batter to end the threat.
Purdue broke onto the scoreboard in the third care of a bases loaded walk to Varsho. Two strikeouts and a ground ball to the pitcher kept the Boilers from adding to the lead. The Boilermakers filled the bases as senior Ashley Courtney drew a leadoff walk and went to third after a throwing error by the pitcher and a bunt single by sophomore Ashley Burkhardt.
The Boilermakers added another run in the fourth as junior Lindsey Rains sent a single up the middle with two aboard. The hit came with runners at second and third after seniors Maia Monchek and Erika Petruzzi drew walks to start the inning and were sacrificed into scoring position. A pair of strikeouts kept Purdue from capitalizing further.
Northwestern tied the score at 2-2 with help from two singles and two Purdue miscues. With runners at first and second after the base hits, a ground ball through the left side was misplayed, allowing two runs to score.
Purdue failed two capitalize with a pair of runners on in the fifth. Andrew reached on a two-out throwing error and went to second as Monchek was hit by pitch. A diving play by the Wildcats prevented the Boilers from making good on the scoring chance.
The Wildcats returned the favor, stranding a runner at third after Boiler miscue in the bottom of the inning.
The Boilermakers took advantage of Northwestern pitching woes for two runs in the sixth. With runners at first and second after a Courtney single and Varsho walk, junior Danielle Fletcher looped a single into shallow left to score a run. Junior Tori Chiodo drew a walk to load the bases for Andrew, who was hit by a pitch to make it 4-2 Boilers. Purdue failed to push more runs across thanks to a strikeout.
A Wildcat runner evaded a tag at the plate on a fielder's choice play following a single, a hit batsman and a passed ball to cut the Purdue lead to one. Another hit batsman spelled the end of the day for Moore, bringing Fecho in to take over with the bases loaded. A two-out single toward second base brought in two runs and a single through the left side gave Northwestern a 6-4 lead.
Purdue went down in order in the seventh to clinch the comeback win for the Wildcats.
The Boilermakers and Wildcats face off again at 2 p.m. ET Saturday and 1 p.m. ET Sunday. Both games will be broadcast on BTN.com and are available with a Purdue All-Access subscription at purduesports.com/allaccess.