April 3, 2013
INDIANAPOLIS - The Boilermaker softball team split its Wednesday doubleheader with IUPUI, falling 3-2 in the first game before rebounding with an 18-2 win in Game 2, including a school record tying 18 hits. Purdue hit .466 on the day, but struggled to manufacture runs in the first game. In Game 2, the Boilermakers jumped out to a quick 8-0 lead in the first inning and never looked back.
Junior Andie Varsho was 7-for-8 on the day, including four hits in Game 2, while scoring four runs and driving in four RBI. Junior Danielle Fletcher also accounted for four RBI, including Purdue's scores in Game 1 with a two-run home run.
Sophomore Lexy Moore struck out five in the Game 1 loss, while sophomore Alex Whittemore picked up the win in Game 2, with four Ks on the day including two in the victory.
The Boilermakers return to action at 4 p.m. Friday when they play host to Michigan State in their 2013 home opener. It is military appreciation day. All military personnel will receive $1 admission by showing a military ID.
IUPUI 3, Purdue 2
The Jaguars put up three runs on eight hits and two errors, while the Boilermakers tallied two runs on nine hits and an error. Junior Andie Varsho posted three hits to lead the Purdue bats, while sophomore Ashley Burkhardt and senior Maia Monchek tallied two hits each.
The Boilermakers got a hit in each of the first three innings, but could not score. Burkardt singled in the first, Monchek added a base hit in the second and Varsho rapped a one-out double in the third.
IUPUI scored first, plating three runs on four hits in the third. A double with runners at second and third brought in the first two runs. A single to center field brought in the third.
The Boilers got two runs back in the fourth as junior Danielle Fletcher lifted a two-run home run over the right field wall. The long ball brought in Burkhardt, who singled up the middle to start the stanza. Monchek had a two-out single later in the inning.
The Jaguars loaded the bases with a trio of singles in the fourth, but the Boilermaker defense held.
Varsho singled and stole second in the fifth inning, but Purdue could not bring her home.
Still trailing 3-2, the Boilermakers loaded the bases in the seventh inning, but could not drive in the tying run. Junior Tori Chiodo led off with a single and was sacrificed over to second, before being joined by junior Kristin Morgan, who walked. Varsho sent a single through the right side, but Chiodo was tagged out in a close play at the plate. Varsho swiped second and Rains walked to fill the bases, but a pop up on the infield cut the rally short.
Purdue 18, IUPUI 2
The Boilermakers bounced back in Game 2, rapping out a school-record tying 18 hits, including four by junior Andie Varsho. Juniors Lindsey Rains and Danielle Fletcher and freshman Paris Andrew added three hits apiece, while senior Ashley Courtney chipped in two hits. Purdue has posted 18 hits in five previous games, last vs. IUPUI in 2011.
Freshman Lilly Fecho struck out three IUPUI batters in two innings of work, before being relieved by sophomore Alex Whittemore (2-0), who struck out two more en route to the win. IUPUI used five pitchers in the loss.
The Boilermakers started the game with an eight run first inning and built from there. Purdue batted around in the first and third innings.
Seven hits and two errors accounted for the Purdue scores in the opening stanza. The team combined a trio of singles by Varsho, Rains and Fletcher for the first run. Senior Maia Monchek walked to fill the bases, and a Courtney single after a fielder's choice play at the plate, made it 2-0. Andrew brought in two more runs with a single to the right center gap. Varsho doubled with bases loaded, following a walk to junior Kristin Morgan, to put Purdue up 6-0. With runners at second and third, Rains sent an RBI single up the middle. A fielding error and a throwing error on the play allowed Varsho to score from second. A ground out finally stopped the Boilermaker rally at 8-0.
IUPUI stranded two runners in the bottom of the inning after an error and a hit.
After turning a double play to erase a second inning walk, the Jaguars pushed across two runs on two hits and an error. A two-out walk and a single set up a fielder's choice play, but an overthrow allowed a run to score. A double drove home the second run. A strikeout stranded two runners.
Purdue poured on six more runs on seven hits in the third. Courtney doubled, Andrew singled and Morgan was hit by a pitch to fill the bases to start the stanza. After a pitching change, Varsho laced a single through the right side to pick up two more RBI. Rains kept the hit parade going with a double to left center that scored two. She went to third on the throw home and scored the following play on a ground ball to second base. Fletcher launched a solo home run to dead center field to make it 14-2. IUPUI switched pitchers again, but the Boilers filled the bases again with a walk and two singles. A ground ball to the shortstop prevented any further damage.
Whittemore pitched a 1-2-3 inning in the third, bringing the Boiler bats back to the plate. This time, Purdue added four runs on four hits and an error. Varsho started things off with a single, went to second on an error and stole third. Rains brought her in with a double down the right field line, then promptly stole third before scoring on a ground ball to second base. Fletcher singled and was pinch run for by freshman Sydney Pencek, whose stay on the bases was brief as Monchek launched a homer to right field to bring her in.
IUPUI got a single in the fourth, but it was erased by a fielder's choice and a ground out.
Both teams went down in order in the fifth to end the game via mercy rule.