MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. – The Purdue softball team dropped its series opener on the road at Minnesota on Friday afternoon 8-5. The Boilermakers plated four runs over the final two innings and brought the tying run to the on-deck circle, but the Gold Gophers shut the door on the comeback bid.
Purdue was narrowly topped in the hit battle, 9-7, but played flawless defense compared to Minnesota's four errors.
The Boilermakers' freshman class had the lion's share of production on the offensive end. Kiley Goff led the way on the afternoon with a 2-for-4 performance at the plate, her third multi-hit game this season. Kaitlyn Brannstrom was 1-for-2 with an RBI and a walk. Kiara Dillon tallied her first career multi-RBI outing with a 1-for-2, 2-RBI performance.
Minnesota opened the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first, but Purdue responded in the top of the second. Sydney Bates dropped down a would-be sacrifice bunt, only for the Golden Gophers to throw the ball into right field and allow Goff to trot in from second.
The hosts then scored five unanswered runs through the fifth inning, before Dillon cut the gap down to three with one swing of the bat. After a leadoff walk from Brannstrom and a single from Bates, the freshman roped a 2-RBI double up the middle to make it 6-3 Minnesota.
Following two more Minnesota runs in the bottom of the sixth, Purdue scored twice more in the seventh. Rachel Becker came home on a throwing error with one out, followed by an RBI groundout from Brannstrom.
Purdue used two pitchers on the afternoon. Starter Ashley Peters fanned four in her five innings of work, but gave up seven earned runs on seven hits and three walks. Reliver Sydney Preston tossed the sixth and struck out one and gave up one earned run.
The Boilermakers' offense scored five runs against Minnesota's starter and 2019 All-American Amber Fiser, tied for the second most she has allowed this season. The righty tossed the complete game with four strikeouts, seven hits and a pair of earned runs.
Purdue (5-12) – 5, Minnesota (13-4) - 8
Winning pitcher: Amber Fiser (6-3)
Losing pitcher: Ashley Peters (3-3)
NOTES
• Purdue's leadoff hitters were 4-for-7.
• Preston made her fifth appearance out of the bullpen this season.
• The Boilermakers were 2-for-4 with runners in scoring position and less than two outs.
• Peters' four strikeouts were one shy of her career high against Penn State earlier this year.
• Purdue stranded eight runners to seven for Minnesota.
• Cora Bassett picked up her fifth double and seventh extra-base hit of the campaign.
UP NEXT
The Boilermakers will square off with the Golden Gophers on Saturday for a doubleheader starting at 1 p.m.