CLEARWATER, Fla. - The Purdue softball team plated 18 runs on the day to collect a pair of wins Friday, first defeating Florida A&M in eight innings, before earning a commanding 11-2 run-rule victory over Lafayette College at the Eddie C. Moore Sports Complex.
The wins were highlighted by three home runs from senior Jenny Behan. The veteran leads the Boilermakers (19-8) with seven homers on the season.
Purdue 7, FAMU 3 | 9 Innings
The Boilermakers struck first in the opening frame as senior Mallory Baker scored on an FAMU fielding error. The Rattlers (6-18) then tied the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the frame.
FAMU broke the tie with an RBI single in the bottom of the second, before Purdue put up a two-run third inning with an RBI double from senior Lexi Huffman and an RBI single from junior Alexa Binckes.
The Boilermakers maintained their 3-2 edge through the next two innings, before the Rattlers once again tied the game with an RBI single to right field.
Neither team would find a run in the seventh, pushing the game into extra innings.
Relentless, the Boilermakers exploded for four runs on three hits in the top of the eighth. The frame saw Baker deliver a three-run homer, followed by a solo home run from Behan.
Purdue retired the Rattlers in order in the bottom of the frame to claim the victory, 7-3.
In the circle, Purdue saw action from freshmen Alex Echazarreta and Brenna Smith and redshirt sophomore Sydney Bates. Bates (6-3) earned the win, allowing one run on two hits while striking out six in five innings pitched.
Purdue 11, Lafayette College 2 | 5 innings
The Cougars (2-11) jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a one-run opening frame, but their lead did not last long as the Boilermakers ignited for four runs in the bottom of the third. Freshman Rachel Becker tied the game with an RBI double to right center, before senior Lexi Huffman broke the tie with an RBI single also to right center. A home run from senior Jenny Behan extended Purdue's advantage to 4-1.
Lafayette College answered back in the top of the fourth to cut Purdue's advantage to 4-2 with a double and an RBI single to right center.
Looking to finish off the win, the Boilermakers cushioned their lead with seven runs on six hits in the bottom of the fourth. Purdue saw five Boilermakers dish out singles, before Behan put the Boilermakers up for good with her second homer, a three-run long ball over the left field fence.
Lafayette College threatened in the top of the fifth, putting runners on the corners with back-to-back singles, but a pop up to Behan at third sealed the run-rule victory.
Senior Maddie Damon (1-0) earned the win after not relinquishing a single run or hit in one inning pitched. Freshman Alex Echazarreta earned the start, allowing two runs on three hits in 3.2 innings pitched. Fellow freshman Sydney Preston also faced three batters in 0.1 innings pitched.
The Boilermakers outhit the Cougars 12 to five, with Behan collecting two runs, three hits and five RBI. Becker, Huffman and sophomore Ryleigh Scott added two hits each.
Purdue concludes play at the USF-Michelle Smith Pediatric Cancer Spring Invitational on Saturday, facing off against North Dakota State at 2 p.m. ET, followed by a 4:15 p.m. contest against Seton Hall at the Eddie C. Moore Sports Complex.
The wins were highlighted by three home runs from senior Jenny Behan. The veteran leads the Boilermakers (19-8) with seven homers on the season.
Purdue 7, FAMU 3 | 9 Innings
The Boilermakers struck first in the opening frame as senior Mallory Baker scored on an FAMU fielding error. The Rattlers (6-18) then tied the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the frame.
FAMU broke the tie with an RBI single in the bottom of the second, before Purdue put up a two-run third inning with an RBI double from senior Lexi Huffman and an RBI single from junior Alexa Binckes.
The Boilermakers maintained their 3-2 edge through the next two innings, before the Rattlers once again tied the game with an RBI single to right field.
Neither team would find a run in the seventh, pushing the game into extra innings.
Relentless, the Boilermakers exploded for four runs on three hits in the top of the eighth. The frame saw Baker deliver a three-run homer, followed by a solo home run from Behan.
Purdue retired the Rattlers in order in the bottom of the frame to claim the victory, 7-3.
In the circle, Purdue saw action from freshmen Alex Echazarreta and Brenna Smith and redshirt sophomore Sydney Bates. Bates (6-3) earned the win, allowing one run on two hits while striking out six in five innings pitched.
Purdue 11, Lafayette College 2 | 5 innings
The Cougars (2-11) jumped out to a 1-0 lead with a one-run opening frame, but their lead did not last long as the Boilermakers ignited for four runs in the bottom of the third. Freshman Rachel Becker tied the game with an RBI double to right center, before senior Lexi Huffman broke the tie with an RBI single also to right center. A home run from senior Jenny Behan extended Purdue's advantage to 4-1.
Lafayette College answered back in the top of the fourth to cut Purdue's advantage to 4-2 with a double and an RBI single to right center.
Looking to finish off the win, the Boilermakers cushioned their lead with seven runs on six hits in the bottom of the fourth. Purdue saw five Boilermakers dish out singles, before Behan put the Boilermakers up for good with her second homer, a three-run long ball over the left field fence.
Lafayette College threatened in the top of the fifth, putting runners on the corners with back-to-back singles, but a pop up to Behan at third sealed the run-rule victory.
Senior Maddie Damon (1-0) earned the win after not relinquishing a single run or hit in one inning pitched. Freshman Alex Echazarreta earned the start, allowing two runs on three hits in 3.2 innings pitched. Fellow freshman Sydney Preston also faced three batters in 0.1 innings pitched.
The Boilermakers outhit the Cougars 12 to five, with Behan collecting two runs, three hits and five RBI. Becker, Huffman and sophomore Ryleigh Scott added two hits each.
Purdue concludes play at the USF-Michelle Smith Pediatric Cancer Spring Invitational on Saturday, facing off against North Dakota State at 2 p.m. ET, followed by a 4:15 p.m. contest against Seton Hall at the Eddie C. Moore Sports Complex.