JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A late seventh inning push propelled Purdue softball (13-6) to 5-3 (8 inning) victory at Jacksonville after falling 2-0 to No. 19/20 Virginia Tech.
The Boilermakers snapped its three-game losing streak at Jacksonville with a seventh inning rally to force extras. Entering the final inning with a 2-1 deficit, the Boilermakers overcame a two-out count when Becca Jones scored the equalizer, thanks to a RBI by Kendall Chase.
In the eighth, Purdue out-scored the Dolphins 3-1 to produce the win. The first run came by Rachel Becker, who was placed on second to start the inning. Skye Webb recorded the RBI on Becker's run, before capitalizing on a hit by Madison Douglass to bring the score to 4-2. The final Boilermaker run of the game was produced by Kasey Wilhoit, who scored on an RBI by Jones.
Jacksonville added a run, but was unable to match the three posted by Purdue.
Sydney Bates (8-3) secured the victory after striking out 10 batters, marking the third time this season the Boilermaker tallied double-digit strikeouts. Additionally, Bates ended the game with a 1.97 ERA in the win and allowed seven hits on the night.
Earlier in the day, Purdue fell to Virginia Tech. In a solid defensive showing by both the Boilermakers and Hokies, which left the teams scoreless through the first five innings, Virginia Tech scored the game-winner in the top of the sixth before adding an insurance run in the seventh.
Freshman Ashley Peters (1-1) pitched her first complete collegiate game, allowing six hits while striking out three in the outing.
The Boilermakers recorded five hits in 24 at-bats versus the No. 2 pitcher in the nation in strikeouts, Keely Rochard. Purdue was led by sophomore left fielder Wilhoit, who went 2-3 at the plate against Rochard. Webb and Ryleigh Scott also tallied a hit against the Hokies.
Purdue will close out the JU/UNF Spring Break Challenge tomorrow on the campus of UNF when the Boilermakers take on Akron at 10 a.m. ET.
The Boilermakers snapped its three-game losing streak at Jacksonville with a seventh inning rally to force extras. Entering the final inning with a 2-1 deficit, the Boilermakers overcame a two-out count when Becca Jones scored the equalizer, thanks to a RBI by Kendall Chase.
In the eighth, Purdue out-scored the Dolphins 3-1 to produce the win. The first run came by Rachel Becker, who was placed on second to start the inning. Skye Webb recorded the RBI on Becker's run, before capitalizing on a hit by Madison Douglass to bring the score to 4-2. The final Boilermaker run of the game was produced by Kasey Wilhoit, who scored on an RBI by Jones.
Jacksonville added a run, but was unable to match the three posted by Purdue.
Sydney Bates (8-3) secured the victory after striking out 10 batters, marking the third time this season the Boilermaker tallied double-digit strikeouts. Additionally, Bates ended the game with a 1.97 ERA in the win and allowed seven hits on the night.
Earlier in the day, Purdue fell to Virginia Tech. In a solid defensive showing by both the Boilermakers and Hokies, which left the teams scoreless through the first five innings, Virginia Tech scored the game-winner in the top of the sixth before adding an insurance run in the seventh.
Freshman Ashley Peters (1-1) pitched her first complete collegiate game, allowing six hits while striking out three in the outing.
The Boilermakers recorded five hits in 24 at-bats versus the No. 2 pitcher in the nation in strikeouts, Keely Rochard. Purdue was led by sophomore left fielder Wilhoit, who went 2-3 at the plate against Rochard. Webb and Ryleigh Scott also tallied a hit against the Hokies.
Purdue will close out the JU/UNF Spring Break Challenge tomorrow on the campus of UNF when the Boilermakers take on Akron at 10 a.m. ET.