WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue (10-28, 3-6 B1G) withstood the first blow by Northwestern (23-13, 6-5 B1G) but was unable to keep up with the hot bats of the Wildcats as the Boilermakers dropped the series finale 17-8. However, Purdue won the series 2-1 against a top team in the Big Ten that was receiving votes in the NFCA Top-25 Coaches Poll.
The Wildcats jumped on Purdue early, putting up five two-out runs in the first inning but the Boilermakers responded promptly with seven runs in the bottom of the frame. Purdue jumped on Northwestern's starter for six runs without recording an out.
Mallory Baker and Jenny Behan each walked with Ryeigh Scott beating out an infield single between them to load the bases. Alexa Binckes was hit by a pitch in the ensuing at-bat to bring in the first run for the Boilermakers. Halle Hixenbaugh followed Binckes with an RBI single to left, setting up a bases-loaded situation for Stephanie Ramsey who belted her first-career grand slam to claim a 6-5 lead. A single by Morgan Cavinder and walks by Lexi Huffman and Baker loaded the bases again with one out in the inning, leading to a sacrifice fly by Scott to score Cavinder and complete the seven-run inning.
Northwestern soon reclaimed the lead with four runs in the third and never looked back. Baker led off the sixth with a single and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Alexa Binckes but that's where Purdue's scoring was brought to a halt, leading to the six-inning loss.
Each of Purdue's three hitters at the top of the lineup reached base safely three times in the contest. Baker and Behan both singled and walked twice. Baker scored two runs while Behan crossed the place on Ramsey's homer. Scott reached on two infield singles and added a run and an RBI to her line.
Behan and Scott enjoyed their best weekend in a Purdue uniform against the Wildcats as they each hit over .600 in the series. Behan finished with a .667 batting average, 1.556 slugging percentage and a .750 on-base percentage thanks to six hits in nine at-bats, two doubles, two home runs, three walks, five runs scored and eight runs batted in. Scott used five hits in eight at-bats, two walks, a pair of sacrifice hits, and a stolen base to fuel her .625 batting average, .636 on-base percentage, five runs scored and two runs batted in.
The Boilermakers finish their homestand at Bittinger Stadium with a doubleheader against Indiana State on Wednesday, April 11, beginning at 4 p.m. ET.
