UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Purdue softball team moves to .500 on the season (18-18, 1-3 Big Ten) following a 1-7 and 1-8 loss at Penn State in Saturday's doubleheader.
On the day, the Boilermakers recorded four hits per game while allowing seven hits in Game One and 11 in Game Two while committing no errors.
The day was highlighted by Alex Echazarreta's Game One home run to center field, which marked the third consecutive game with a homer. The senior followed it up in the next game with an RBI. Kiara Dillon scored on the play after reaching first on a bunt, using her speed to beat out the throw. The sophomore centerfielder's run was the 17th of the season, including the third in the last four games.
Despite the slow start for the Boilers in their first matchup, Purdue came out hot to start the second game, gaining momentum with two hits in the top of the first, including Dillon's eventual run. However, the Nittany Lions evened the score in the bottom of the inning before notching the game-winner in the third and insurance runs in the fifth (one run) and sixth (five runs).
Defensively, Olivia McFadden shone with three putouts in Game Two, a career-high, and Rachel Becker with a SC Top 10-worthy catch for the first out in the fifth inning of Game One.
Echazarreta started in the circle in Game One, recording just her fourth loss of the season as she moves to 8-4 on the year after allowing four hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts over 3.1 innings pitched.
Meanwhile, Brenna Smith tossed the first 4.2 innings in Game Two on her way to moving to 2-5 this season. Smith produced a pair of strikeouts in the outing and allowed just one walk.
Purdue will be back at Penn State tomorrow for the third and final game of the series. The Boilermakers are slated to take the field at 1 p.m. ET and the game will be streamed on B1G+.
On the day, the Boilermakers recorded four hits per game while allowing seven hits in Game One and 11 in Game Two while committing no errors.
The day was highlighted by Alex Echazarreta's Game One home run to center field, which marked the third consecutive game with a homer. The senior followed it up in the next game with an RBI. Kiara Dillon scored on the play after reaching first on a bunt, using her speed to beat out the throw. The sophomore centerfielder's run was the 17th of the season, including the third in the last four games.
Despite the slow start for the Boilers in their first matchup, Purdue came out hot to start the second game, gaining momentum with two hits in the top of the first, including Dillon's eventual run. However, the Nittany Lions evened the score in the bottom of the inning before notching the game-winner in the third and insurance runs in the fifth (one run) and sixth (five runs).
Defensively, Olivia McFadden shone with three putouts in Game Two, a career-high, and Rachel Becker with a SC Top 10-worthy catch for the first out in the fifth inning of Game One.
Echazarreta started in the circle in Game One, recording just her fourth loss of the season as she moves to 8-4 on the year after allowing four hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts over 3.1 innings pitched.
Meanwhile, Brenna Smith tossed the first 4.2 innings in Game Two on her way to moving to 2-5 this season. Smith produced a pair of strikeouts in the outing and allowed just one walk.
Purdue will be back at Penn State tomorrow for the third and final game of the series. The Boilermakers are slated to take the field at 1 p.m. ET and the game will be streamed on B1G+.