ORLANDO, Fla. - After opening the day with a 12-3 five-inning loss to Bradley, the Boilermakers rebounded with a 6-5 decision against South Alabama on the first day of the Diamond 9 Citrus Classic at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on Friday.
With the pair of games, Purdue moves to 8-6 overall.
Bradley 12, Purdue 3 | 5 innings
The Braves (6-9) started the scoring in the top of the first inning, plating four runs on three hits and two Purdue errors. Bradley's Lucy Mead, who reached on the walk scored the first run of the contest on a passed ball, while the Braves collected three more runs on a pair of Boilermaker miscues and an RBI single.
The Boilermakers responded with a 2-RBI double from senior Jenny Behan in the bottom of the frame, cutting the Braves' lead in half. However, Bradley regained the two runs in the top of the third on back-to-back walks, after the Braves loaded the bases on three consecutive singles.
Leading 6-2, Bradley embellished its advantage with a six-run fourth inning.
The Boilermakers worked to get a run back in the bottom of the fourth before Bradley secured the win, 12-3, in five innings.
Senior Kaitlynn Moody (2-2) took the setback after allowing three earned runs on five hits and two walks. Freshmen Brenna Smith and Alex Echazarreta and senior Maddie Damon each saw relief action, with Smith and Echazarreta relinquishing a combined seven earned runs and seven hits, while Damon did not allow a single hit or run in her 0.1 innings pitched.
As a team, the Boilermakers posted three hits and suffered three errors, with Behan pacing the team with two RBI.
Purdue 6, South Alabama 5
As the opener, the Boilermakers struck first for a 1-0 lead following a trio of singles, including an RBI base hit from junior Alexa Binckes.
The Jaguars (8-8) fought back with a run of their own in the bottom of the second, tying the score at 1-1 with sac fly to left field.
Both teams tacked on runs in the third, keeping the score knotted at 2-2.
Binckes momentarily gave the lead back to Purdue with her second RBI single of the game in the top of the fourth. The junior dished out a hit down the right field line that scored freshman Rachel Becker and Behan, before the Jaguars added three runs in their half of the fourth.
Trailing 5-4, Purdue answered back with two runs in the top of the fifth. The Boilermakers got a pair of pinch-hit singles to start the inning by freshmen Kasey Wilhoit and Nicole Siess. The rookies were then brought home on a pair of wild pitches from USA hurler Alexis Reid and a sac fly from Becker, respectively.
Owning a 6-5 edge, the Boilermakers held off South Alabama with solid defense, limiting Jaguars to only four at-bats in the final frame. Purdue solidified the win on senior Kaitlynn Moody's second strike out of the game.
The Boilermakers totaled 12 hits, but committed three errors in the game, while the Jaguars registered eight knocks. Becker went 3-for-3 with two runs and one RBI, while Binckes notched a squad-best three RBI.
Redshirt sophomore Sydney Bates earned the win for the Boilermakers (2-2), while Moody earned her second save of the season.
Purdue continues play at the Diamond 9 Citrus Classic tomorrow with a pair of games against Bradley and Savannah State at noon and 2:30 p.m. ET, respectively.
With the pair of games, Purdue moves to 8-6 overall.
Bradley 12, Purdue 3 | 5 innings
The Braves (6-9) started the scoring in the top of the first inning, plating four runs on three hits and two Purdue errors. Bradley's Lucy Mead, who reached on the walk scored the first run of the contest on a passed ball, while the Braves collected three more runs on a pair of Boilermaker miscues and an RBI single.
The Boilermakers responded with a 2-RBI double from senior Jenny Behan in the bottom of the frame, cutting the Braves' lead in half. However, Bradley regained the two runs in the top of the third on back-to-back walks, after the Braves loaded the bases on three consecutive singles.
Leading 6-2, Bradley embellished its advantage with a six-run fourth inning.
The Boilermakers worked to get a run back in the bottom of the fourth before Bradley secured the win, 12-3, in five innings.
Senior Kaitlynn Moody (2-2) took the setback after allowing three earned runs on five hits and two walks. Freshmen Brenna Smith and Alex Echazarreta and senior Maddie Damon each saw relief action, with Smith and Echazarreta relinquishing a combined seven earned runs and seven hits, while Damon did not allow a single hit or run in her 0.1 innings pitched.
As a team, the Boilermakers posted three hits and suffered three errors, with Behan pacing the team with two RBI.
Purdue 6, South Alabama 5
As the opener, the Boilermakers struck first for a 1-0 lead following a trio of singles, including an RBI base hit from junior Alexa Binckes.
The Jaguars (8-8) fought back with a run of their own in the bottom of the second, tying the score at 1-1 with sac fly to left field.
Both teams tacked on runs in the third, keeping the score knotted at 2-2.
Binckes momentarily gave the lead back to Purdue with her second RBI single of the game in the top of the fourth. The junior dished out a hit down the right field line that scored freshman Rachel Becker and Behan, before the Jaguars added three runs in their half of the fourth.
Trailing 5-4, Purdue answered back with two runs in the top of the fifth. The Boilermakers got a pair of pinch-hit singles to start the inning by freshmen Kasey Wilhoit and Nicole Siess. The rookies were then brought home on a pair of wild pitches from USA hurler Alexis Reid and a sac fly from Becker, respectively.
Owning a 6-5 edge, the Boilermakers held off South Alabama with solid defense, limiting Jaguars to only four at-bats in the final frame. Purdue solidified the win on senior Kaitlynn Moody's second strike out of the game.
The Boilermakers totaled 12 hits, but committed three errors in the game, while the Jaguars registered eight knocks. Becker went 3-for-3 with two runs and one RBI, while Binckes notched a squad-best three RBI.
Redshirt sophomore Sydney Bates earned the win for the Boilermakers (2-2), while Moody earned her second save of the season.
Purdue continues play at the Diamond 9 Citrus Classic tomorrow with a pair of games against Bradley and Savannah State at noon and 2:30 p.m. ET, respectively.