CHARLESTON, S.C. - The Purdue softball team pushed across 17 runs in two games Friday and earned a split as the Boilermakers defeated Pitt 13-9 in extra innings but fell to Charleston 8-4 on the first day of the Cougar Classic.
With the split, Purdue starts the season 1-1, earning an opening-day win for the first time since 2016, when the Boilermakers outplayed Southern Utah (8-1) and UC Santa Barbara (10-9).
At the plate, Purdue was guided by senior Jenny Behan, junior Madison Douglass and freshman Kasey Wilhoit, who registered three RBI apiece, while Behan delivered Purdue's first home run of the season.
Defensively, the Boilermakers were guided by four different pitchers. Freshman Brenna Smith led the quartet with her first collegiate victory, while redshirt sophomore Sydney Bates topped the group with three strikeouts.
Charleston 8, Purdue 4
Purdue outhit Charleston 10-9 but could not overcome an early 5-0 deficit, falling to the Cougars 8-4.
Behan notched her eighth home run as a Boilermaker, while Wilhoit guided Purdue with three hits.
The Boilermaker pitching staff saw Kaitlynn Moody, Maddie Damon and Smith reach the circle. Smith saw the most action with 4.0 innings pitched. Moody followed with 1.2 innings of work and recorded the loss (0-1).
Purdue 13, Pitt 9 (8)
The Boilermakers fell behind in the first inning after giving up a home run to the Panthers in the first inning. A pair of singles from Behan and Bates promptly corrected the situation, pushing across Mallory Baker, who reached on a walk in the top of the third.
With the score tied (1-1) after three innings, the Boilermakers utilized a single from Rachel Krzysko, a pair of walks and a wild pitch from Pitt to drive in two more runs for a 3-1 advantage.
The Panthers would take back two runs, but a double from Madison Douglass in the fifth would keep the Boilermakers in the lead.
With Purdue owning a 6-3 lead in the middle of the sixth inning, Pitt responded with three runs over three hits in the bottom of the frame to knot the game 6-6.
Both teams followed with a scoreless seventh frame, pushing the contest into an eighth inning that would ultimately last an hour. In the frame, the Boilermakers pushed ahead with seven runs. Pitt battle back to reclaim three but Purdue's defense stalled the Panther's momentum for a 13-9 victory.
The Boilermakers continue the Cougar Classic with contests against Central Michigan (9 a.m.) and Virginia Tech (11:15 a.m.) on Saturday.
With the split, Purdue starts the season 1-1, earning an opening-day win for the first time since 2016, when the Boilermakers outplayed Southern Utah (8-1) and UC Santa Barbara (10-9).
At the plate, Purdue was guided by senior Jenny Behan, junior Madison Douglass and freshman Kasey Wilhoit, who registered three RBI apiece, while Behan delivered Purdue's first home run of the season.
Defensively, the Boilermakers were guided by four different pitchers. Freshman Brenna Smith led the quartet with her first collegiate victory, while redshirt sophomore Sydney Bates topped the group with three strikeouts.
Charleston 8, Purdue 4
Purdue outhit Charleston 10-9 but could not overcome an early 5-0 deficit, falling to the Cougars 8-4.
Behan notched her eighth home run as a Boilermaker, while Wilhoit guided Purdue with three hits.
The Boilermaker pitching staff saw Kaitlynn Moody, Maddie Damon and Smith reach the circle. Smith saw the most action with 4.0 innings pitched. Moody followed with 1.2 innings of work and recorded the loss (0-1).
Purdue 13, Pitt 9 (8)
The Boilermakers fell behind in the first inning after giving up a home run to the Panthers in the first inning. A pair of singles from Behan and Bates promptly corrected the situation, pushing across Mallory Baker, who reached on a walk in the top of the third.
With the score tied (1-1) after three innings, the Boilermakers utilized a single from Rachel Krzysko, a pair of walks and a wild pitch from Pitt to drive in two more runs for a 3-1 advantage.
The Panthers would take back two runs, but a double from Madison Douglass in the fifth would keep the Boilermakers in the lead.
With Purdue owning a 6-3 lead in the middle of the sixth inning, Pitt responded with three runs over three hits in the bottom of the frame to knot the game 6-6.
Both teams followed with a scoreless seventh frame, pushing the contest into an eighth inning that would ultimately last an hour. In the frame, the Boilermakers pushed ahead with seven runs. Pitt battle back to reclaim three but Purdue's defense stalled the Panther's momentum for a 13-9 victory.
The Boilermakers continue the Cougar Classic with contests against Central Michigan (9 a.m.) and Virginia Tech (11:15 a.m.) on Saturday.