CHARLESTON, S.C. – For a second consecutive day, the Purdue softball team (2-2) split its two contests, outplaying Central Michigan 11-3 in five innings before falling to Virginia Tech 7-5 to end the day.
Purdue 11, Central Michigan 3 (5 innings)
The Boilermakers seized an early 9-0 lead in the bottom of the first after taking full advantage of six walks from Central Michigan's Shannon Stein and Mallory Cloe. The walks loaded the bases and pushed across four runs for the Boilermakers, while senior Jenny Behan delivered a pair of RBI singles and senior Mallory Baker dished out a three-RBI double to left field.
Maintaining a 9-0 lead through three innings, the Boilermakers capitalized on a CMU fielding error to tack on a 10th run in the bottom of the fourth.
Powered by a pair of singles and a Boilermaker fielding error, the Chippewas put up three runs in the top of the fifth to snap Purdue's chances of a shutout (10-3). However, in the bottom of the frame, Purdue closed out the game, 11-3, with an RBI single from Madison Douglass. The junior's hit was one of three for Purdue in the final frame.
Freshman Alex Echazarreta was the lone Purdue pitcher for the five-inning game, allowing three runs – one earned – on six hits and two walks to earn her first collegiate win.
The Boilermakers totaled eight hits in the victory, with Behan going a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBI and Baker adding three hits, two runs and three RBI.
Virginia Tech 7, Purdue 5
Despite putting four unanswered runs on the board over the final two innings, the Boilermaker softball team could not recover from a pair of three-run innings by Virginia Tech and fell by a final score of 7-5 in its second game of the day.
Baker, Douglass and freshmen Rachel Becker and Kasey Wilhoit tallied hits for the Boilermakers in the game, while Virginia Tech received seven runs on 11 hits.
Carried Eberie (2-0) struck out three batters in the complete game victory for the Hokies. Freshman Brenna Smith (1-1) was saddled with the loss despite pitching for 0.1 innings. The Purdue pitching staff also saw action from redshirt sophomore Sydney Bates and seniors Maddie Damon and Kaitlynn Moody.
Virginia Tech plated three runs on three hits in the top of the first. A single and a walk put the Hokies in scoring position, while a wild pitch from the Boilermakers accounted for the first score. Virginia Tech plated the next two runs on a sacrifice fly and a double out to left field, respectively.
A home run from Olivia Lattin pushed Virginia Tech to a 4-0 advantage in the top of the second, while four more Hokie hits added three more runs for a 7-0 Virginia Tech advantage in the top of the fifth.
The Boilermakers got one run walk back in the bottom of the sixth, as Baker notched a double and then scored on a Hokie fielding error.
Finding some rhythm, Purdue finally broke out offensively with four runs in the bottom of the seventh. Loading the bases on three consecutive walks, the Boilermakers notched a run on Virginia Tech error. The Boilermakers claimed two more runs on singles from Baker and Wilhoit, while a second Hokie error put up one final run for Purdue.
Despite, cutting Virginia Tech's lead to two, the late rally was not enough to lift the Boilermakers past their second ACC opponent of the year.
Up Next
Purdue closes out the Cougar Classic with a rematch against Virginia Tech on Sunday. The Boilermakers and the Hokies are set to play a single game with first pitch slated for 9 a.m. ET.
Purdue 11, Central Michigan 3 (5 innings)
The Boilermakers seized an early 9-0 lead in the bottom of the first after taking full advantage of six walks from Central Michigan's Shannon Stein and Mallory Cloe. The walks loaded the bases and pushed across four runs for the Boilermakers, while senior Jenny Behan delivered a pair of RBI singles and senior Mallory Baker dished out a three-RBI double to left field.
Maintaining a 9-0 lead through three innings, the Boilermakers capitalized on a CMU fielding error to tack on a 10th run in the bottom of the fourth.
Powered by a pair of singles and a Boilermaker fielding error, the Chippewas put up three runs in the top of the fifth to snap Purdue's chances of a shutout (10-3). However, in the bottom of the frame, Purdue closed out the game, 11-3, with an RBI single from Madison Douglass. The junior's hit was one of three for Purdue in the final frame.
Freshman Alex Echazarreta was the lone Purdue pitcher for the five-inning game, allowing three runs – one earned – on six hits and two walks to earn her first collegiate win.
The Boilermakers totaled eight hits in the victory, with Behan going a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBI and Baker adding three hits, two runs and three RBI.
Virginia Tech 7, Purdue 5
Despite putting four unanswered runs on the board over the final two innings, the Boilermaker softball team could not recover from a pair of three-run innings by Virginia Tech and fell by a final score of 7-5 in its second game of the day.
Baker, Douglass and freshmen Rachel Becker and Kasey Wilhoit tallied hits for the Boilermakers in the game, while Virginia Tech received seven runs on 11 hits.
Carried Eberie (2-0) struck out three batters in the complete game victory for the Hokies. Freshman Brenna Smith (1-1) was saddled with the loss despite pitching for 0.1 innings. The Purdue pitching staff also saw action from redshirt sophomore Sydney Bates and seniors Maddie Damon and Kaitlynn Moody.
Virginia Tech plated three runs on three hits in the top of the first. A single and a walk put the Hokies in scoring position, while a wild pitch from the Boilermakers accounted for the first score. Virginia Tech plated the next two runs on a sacrifice fly and a double out to left field, respectively.
A home run from Olivia Lattin pushed Virginia Tech to a 4-0 advantage in the top of the second, while four more Hokie hits added three more runs for a 7-0 Virginia Tech advantage in the top of the fifth.
The Boilermakers got one run walk back in the bottom of the sixth, as Baker notched a double and then scored on a Hokie fielding error.
Finding some rhythm, Purdue finally broke out offensively with four runs in the bottom of the seventh. Loading the bases on three consecutive walks, the Boilermakers notched a run on Virginia Tech error. The Boilermakers claimed two more runs on singles from Baker and Wilhoit, while a second Hokie error put up one final run for Purdue.
Despite, cutting Virginia Tech's lead to two, the late rally was not enough to lift the Boilermakers past their second ACC opponent of the year.
Up Next
Purdue closes out the Cougar Classic with a rematch against Virginia Tech on Sunday. The Boilermakers and the Hokies are set to play a single game with first pitch slated for 9 a.m. ET.