Box Score (Saint Francis) // Box Score (Oklahoma State)
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - Newcomers Ryleigh Scott and Jenny Behan lifted Purdue (3-17) to a 4-3 victory over Saint Francis (12-11) prior to falling to No. 24 Oklahoma State (16-6) 7-0. Scott provided the insurance the Boilermakers needed against Saint Francis in the top of the seventh when she delivered a two-out inside-the-park home run.
Sydney Bates set the tone early with back-to-back scoreless frames to begin the game, allowing Purdue to strike first in the top of the third inning. Stephanie Ramsey and Halle Hixenbaugh kicked off the inning with back-to-back singles, giving Purdue two runners on with no outs, however, Saint Francis' pitcher was able to recover well retiring the next two batters she faced. With two outs and a pair of Boilermakers on base, Saint Francis mishandled a ball up the middle allowing Purdue to extend the inning and score its first run of the ballgame. In the ensuing at-bat, Behan stepped up with a triple down the right field line to score two more for the Boilermakers, giving them a 3-0 run in the third. Behan finished the game 3-3 with a triple and a pair of RBI.
However, a two-run shot off of Bates in the bottom of the third pulled Saint Francis within one, prompting a pitching change for the Boilermakers. Purdue called upon Kaitlynn Moody who served up four innings of one-run ball including seven ground outs. For good measure, Scott shot a two-out line drive into right, past the right fielder, allowing Scott to come all the way around and score. The homer proved crucial as Saint Frances managed to squeak in a run in the bottom of the inning but that was all it would get.
Altogether, the pitching staff was stellar in the victory. Bates threw three innings with five strikeouts, and allowed just two hits and two runs. Moody tossed four innings and allowed just one run on three hits while earning seven groundouts.
Giana Lopez was impressive in four innings of work against Purdue's fifth ranked opponent of the season. She allowed just two runs
Purdue seeks two more wins Saturday with games against Pacific at noon and UConn at 5 p.m. ET.
