AMES, Iowa - The Purdue softball team split the opening day of the National Invitational Softball Championships as the Boilermakers defeated South Dakota State, 4-3, in nine innings, before falling, 6-1, to host Iowa State on Thursday afternoon.
With the loss, the Boilermakers move into the playback round and are set to take on Eastern Kentucky on Saturday at 10 a.m. ET. Purdue will need to win the contest for a chance to stay alive in the double-elimination postseason tournament.
Game 1 | Purdue 4, South Dakota 3 (9 innings)
The Boilermakers (32-28) opened the scoring in the bottom of the second as single from freshman Kaeley Hallada capitalized on a double from classmate Kasey Wilhoit for a 1-0 edge.
South Dakota answered back with three runs on back-to-back doubles in the top of the third to steal the lead, 3-1. However, the Boilermakers chipped away at the USD advantage with an RBI single from freshman Kaitlynn Moody in the bottom of the frame.
The Coyotes sustained its one-run advantage through the next three innings, before Moody dished out her second RBI single to tie the game, 3-3, in the bottom of the seventh.
After limiting USD to a single hit in the top of the eighth, the Boilermakers found the difference maker in the bottom frame. Consecutive singles from freshman Rachel Becker and senior Mallory Baker and a walk from senior Jenny Behan loaded bases, while a single to right field by redshirt sophomore Sydney Bates pushed across the winning run.
Overall, Purdue outhit South Dakota, 14-9, with four Boilermakers tallying two hits each.
Senior Maddie Damon (2-6) collected the win in the circle after limiting South Dakota to zero runs on five hits in 5.2 innings of relief.
Game 2 | Iowa State 6, Purdue 1
The Cyclones (33-23) struck first on an RBI single to left field in the bottom of the first for a 1-0 advantage. The Boilermakers responded with a run in the third as senior Jenny Behan doubled with freshman Rachel Becker scoring on the play to tie the game 1-1.
Iowa State delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the frame to regain the edge, 2-1, before pushing across an insurance run on a two-out infield single.
The home squad cushioned its advantage with three more runs in the bottom of the fifth for the 6-1 lead as the Boilermakers could not rally in the final innings.
Redshirt sophomore (12-9) started and went 4.1 innings, allowing five earned runs on eight hits in the outing. Senior Kaitlynn Moody entered in the fifth and gave up two hits in 1.2 innings of relief.
The Boilermakers, who totaled five hits in the contest, were led by senior Lexi Huffman and freshman Kasey Wilhoit with two hits apiece.
With the loss, the Boilermakers move into the playback round and are set to take on Eastern Kentucky on Saturday at 10 a.m. ET. Purdue will need to win the contest for a chance to stay alive in the double-elimination postseason tournament.
Game 1 | Purdue 4, South Dakota 3 (9 innings)
The Boilermakers (32-28) opened the scoring in the bottom of the second as single from freshman Kaeley Hallada capitalized on a double from classmate Kasey Wilhoit for a 1-0 edge.
South Dakota answered back with three runs on back-to-back doubles in the top of the third to steal the lead, 3-1. However, the Boilermakers chipped away at the USD advantage with an RBI single from freshman Kaitlynn Moody in the bottom of the frame.
The Coyotes sustained its one-run advantage through the next three innings, before Moody dished out her second RBI single to tie the game, 3-3, in the bottom of the seventh.
After limiting USD to a single hit in the top of the eighth, the Boilermakers found the difference maker in the bottom frame. Consecutive singles from freshman Rachel Becker and senior Mallory Baker and a walk from senior Jenny Behan loaded bases, while a single to right field by redshirt sophomore Sydney Bates pushed across the winning run.
Overall, Purdue outhit South Dakota, 14-9, with four Boilermakers tallying two hits each.
Senior Maddie Damon (2-6) collected the win in the circle after limiting South Dakota to zero runs on five hits in 5.2 innings of relief.
Game 2 | Iowa State 6, Purdue 1
The Cyclones (33-23) struck first on an RBI single to left field in the bottom of the first for a 1-0 advantage. The Boilermakers responded with a run in the third as senior Jenny Behan doubled with freshman Rachel Becker scoring on the play to tie the game 1-1.
Iowa State delivered an RBI single in the bottom of the frame to regain the edge, 2-1, before pushing across an insurance run on a two-out infield single.
The home squad cushioned its advantage with three more runs in the bottom of the fifth for the 6-1 lead as the Boilermakers could not rally in the final innings.
Redshirt sophomore (12-9) started and went 4.1 innings, allowing five earned runs on eight hits in the outing. Senior Kaitlynn Moody entered in the fifth and gave up two hits in 1.2 innings of relief.
The Boilermakers, who totaled five hits in the contest, were led by senior Lexi Huffman and freshman Kasey Wilhoit with two hits apiece.