WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – A Purdue softball (14-24) doubleheader versus Northwestern (25-13) ended with a split after the Boilermakers took Game One, 7-3 before dropping the second, 3-2.
Left-handed pitcher Ashley Peters recorded the win in Game One, moving to 4-6 overall this season after entering in the second inning. Meanwhile, the complete game effort by senior Sydney Bates to close out the day moved her to an even 6-6 record.
Five Boilermakers scored runs over the course of the two games, led by freshman Kiley Goff, who recorded a team-leading three. Meanwhile, junior Becca Jones and freshman Kaitlyn Brannstrom each recorded three RBI. Brannstrom's trio came in a three-run home run in Game One, while Jones' was split, earning two in the victory and one in the second.
Purdue and Northwestern will close out the series tomorrow with games at 4 and 6:30 p.m. ET, streamed on Big Ten Network Plus. Following the final game, Purdue will celebrate its seniors Ryleigh Scott and Bates, along with student athletic trainer Hailey Haveck.
Game One | W, 7-3
Brannstrom's three-run home run in the fourth inning powered Purdue to a victory over Northwestern in the first game of the day. With the final score of 7-3, Purdue improved to a four-game winning streak at Bittinger Stadium.
After trailing 3-0 at the end of the first, the teams underwent an hour and 10-minute delay due to lightning and rain. Upon return, Northwestern loaded the bases, however after Ashley Peters entered the circle, the Boilermakers denied the Wildcats a run.
Purdue kept Northwestern scoreless for the remainder of the game, meanwhile recording runs in the first and third and throwing in a trio of insurance runs in the fifth.
The first run was scored by Alex Echazarreta, who made base on a double to left center. Jones, who was on deck, hit a double of her own down the left field line to send Echazarreta home.
In the third inning, Brannstrom notched the game-winning run. With Becker on second and Goff on first, the first baseman hit her fourth career home run, bringing her season total to 26 RBI.
In the fifth inning Echazarreta doubled again, this time to right field, allowing Goff and Scott to score. Then with Jones up to bat, the second baseman singled, giving the time for Brannstrom to find home and catapult Purdue to a 7-3 lead.
Game 2 | L, 3-2
Leading the team on both sides of the inning, Bates pitched a complete game that included three strikeouts. On the offensive end, the Davie, Florida, native registered two hits, including the team's lone double of the game.
Despite being out-hit 10-3, Purdue remained within striking distance of the win, but was unable to answer the winning Northwestern run that was notched in the sixth inning.
Northwestern was on the board first, producing two runs in the top of the fourth. Purdue immediately answered with a pair of runs, thanks to Goff and Echazarreta.
NOTES:
Left-handed pitcher Ashley Peters recorded the win in Game One, moving to 4-6 overall this season after entering in the second inning. Meanwhile, the complete game effort by senior Sydney Bates to close out the day moved her to an even 6-6 record.
Five Boilermakers scored runs over the course of the two games, led by freshman Kiley Goff, who recorded a team-leading three. Meanwhile, junior Becca Jones and freshman Kaitlyn Brannstrom each recorded three RBI. Brannstrom's trio came in a three-run home run in Game One, while Jones' was split, earning two in the victory and one in the second.
Purdue and Northwestern will close out the series tomorrow with games at 4 and 6:30 p.m. ET, streamed on Big Ten Network Plus. Following the final game, Purdue will celebrate its seniors Ryleigh Scott and Bates, along with student athletic trainer Hailey Haveck.
Game One | W, 7-3
Brannstrom's three-run home run in the fourth inning powered Purdue to a victory over Northwestern in the first game of the day. With the final score of 7-3, Purdue improved to a four-game winning streak at Bittinger Stadium.
After trailing 3-0 at the end of the first, the teams underwent an hour and 10-minute delay due to lightning and rain. Upon return, Northwestern loaded the bases, however after Ashley Peters entered the circle, the Boilermakers denied the Wildcats a run.
Purdue kept Northwestern scoreless for the remainder of the game, meanwhile recording runs in the first and third and throwing in a trio of insurance runs in the fifth.
The first run was scored by Alex Echazarreta, who made base on a double to left center. Jones, who was on deck, hit a double of her own down the left field line to send Echazarreta home.
In the third inning, Brannstrom notched the game-winning run. With Becker on second and Goff on first, the first baseman hit her fourth career home run, bringing her season total to 26 RBI.
In the fifth inning Echazarreta doubled again, this time to right field, allowing Goff and Scott to score. Then with Jones up to bat, the second baseman singled, giving the time for Brannstrom to find home and catapult Purdue to a 7-3 lead.
Game 2 | L, 3-2
Leading the team on both sides of the inning, Bates pitched a complete game that included three strikeouts. On the offensive end, the Davie, Florida, native registered two hits, including the team's lone double of the game.
Despite being out-hit 10-3, Purdue remained within striking distance of the win, but was unable to answer the winning Northwestern run that was notched in the sixth inning.
Northwestern was on the board first, producing two runs in the top of the fourth. Purdue immediately answered with a pair of runs, thanks to Goff and Echazarreta.
NOTES:
- Purdue's four doubles in the win was the most since the 9-6 win at Michigan State (4/24).
- Brannstrom recorded her fourth home run of the season, a team-high. No Boilermaker has had more home runs in a single season since 2019. It marked the third straight weekend she's hit one out of the park.
- Bates has tossed four complete games and hit four doubles this season.
- Rachel Becker has reached base in 11 consecutive games and has had a multi-hit game 20 times this year.
- Goff is second on the team in runs scored (18) and walks (17)
- Three Boilermakers have played in every game this season: Becker, Goff and Brannstrom.
- In seven of the last eight weeks, a Boilermaker has recorded a home run (dating back to 3/14/21 vs. Nebraska).