WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – The Purdue softball team improved to 29 wins for the first time since 2015 with a 9-4 victory over Nebraska on a windy Friday night at Bittinger Stadium.
The victory pushes Purdue to 29-15 overall with a 6-6 Big Ten record and 8-2 showing at home, while the Huskers fall to 13-24 overall and 2-8 in league play.
Purdue's second straight win was powered by two home runs from senior Mallory Baker. The veteran went 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs and five RBI. Freshman Rachel Becker also had a commendable performance at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two runs, two hits and a walk.
In the circle, senior Kaitlynn Moody (10-6) earned the start and the win for Boilermakers after allowing just one earned run on five hits in 3.2 innings pitched. Redshirt sophomore Sydney Bates pitched the remaining 3.1 innings without relinquishing a single hit or run to earn her third save of the season.
Baker opened the scoring in the bottom of the first frame with her first home run of the game. Her long ball was launched over the left center wall and also brought home Becker, who reached on a walk.
Nebraska evened the score with a two RBI single in the second inning before seizing a one-run lead on an RBI single up the middle in the top of the third.
The Huskers' advantage was short lived as Purdue pushed across four runs in the bottom of the inning. An RBI double by senior Lexi Huffman sparked the scoring run and was followed by an RBI single to center field from junior Madison Douglass. The Boilermakers concluded the run capitalizing on a Nebraska error to plate two more runs.
Nebraska reclaimed one run with an RBI double down the left line in the top of the fourth, before Baker delivered her second home run of the day in the bottom of the sixth. The three-RBI bomb launched over the center field solidified Purdue's victory 9-4 in the series opener.
Both teams are set to conclude the series with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch for the opening game is set for 3 p.m. ET at Bittinger Stadium, with the second game following at 5 p.m. There will be no game on Sunday due to rain in the West Lafayette area.
The victory pushes Purdue to 29-15 overall with a 6-6 Big Ten record and 8-2 showing at home, while the Huskers fall to 13-24 overall and 2-8 in league play.
Purdue's second straight win was powered by two home runs from senior Mallory Baker. The veteran went 2-for-4 at the plate with two runs and five RBI. Freshman Rachel Becker also had a commendable performance at the plate, going 2-for-3 with two runs, two hits and a walk.
In the circle, senior Kaitlynn Moody (10-6) earned the start and the win for Boilermakers after allowing just one earned run on five hits in 3.2 innings pitched. Redshirt sophomore Sydney Bates pitched the remaining 3.1 innings without relinquishing a single hit or run to earn her third save of the season.
Baker opened the scoring in the bottom of the first frame with her first home run of the game. Her long ball was launched over the left center wall and also brought home Becker, who reached on a walk.
Nebraska evened the score with a two RBI single in the second inning before seizing a one-run lead on an RBI single up the middle in the top of the third.
The Huskers' advantage was short lived as Purdue pushed across four runs in the bottom of the inning. An RBI double by senior Lexi Huffman sparked the scoring run and was followed by an RBI single to center field from junior Madison Douglass. The Boilermakers concluded the run capitalizing on a Nebraska error to plate two more runs.
Nebraska reclaimed one run with an RBI double down the left line in the top of the fourth, before Baker delivered her second home run of the day in the bottom of the sixth. The three-RBI bomb launched over the center field solidified Purdue's victory 9-4 in the series opener.
Both teams are set to conclude the series with a doubleheader on Saturday. First pitch for the opening game is set for 3 p.m. ET at Bittinger Stadium, with the second game following at 5 p.m. There will be no game on Sunday due to rain in the West Lafayette area.