BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – The Boilermakers split day one of the Green and Gold Classic, defeating USI (1-8) 12-0, and falling to Belmont (8-5), 2-0 in eight innings.
Alivia Meeks hit her third home run of the year, which doubled as the third home run of her career in the first game against USI. Madi Elish pitched 6.1 shutout innings against Belmont, before Purdue fell short during the extra-inning international tie breaker.
BOILER BITS (vs. USI)
Offensive Highlights:
HOW IT HAPPENED
Khloe Banks started off the game with a bang for the Boilers with a triple to the left center gap. On the next play, Moriah Polar scored Banks from third on a bunt single. Later in the inning, Julia Gossett reached on a throwing error, which earned another run and put Purdue out to a 3-0 lead after the first.
In the second and third innings, both teams worked scoreless frames. Gossett worked out of a jam in the second, before taking down USI in order in the third.
In the fourth, the Boilers added on two more runs. Alivia Meeks led off the inning with a walk, before Ashlynn Campbell worked her way on base, reaching on an error from USI. Banks then singled up the middle to score Meeks. Banks came around to score on an RBI ground out from Kyndall Bailey to close out the top of the fourth with a five-run lead.
As Gossett continued to work in the circle, the Boilers continued to work at the plate. In the top of the fifth, Jordyn Ramos walked, before a single from Gossett had two runners on base. Ramos stole third on USI, and scored on the next play. The Purdue pinch runner for Gossett, Maura Condon, attempted to steal second which drew the throw to the bag, allowing for Ramos to score and put the Boilers up 6-0. Meeks added fuel to the fire, hitting her third home run of the year, a solo shot, which brought Purdue ahead to a seven-run lead.
Purdue continued to add to its lead in the top of the seventh, combining for five runs on five hits. Polar led off the inning with a single, before back-to-back walks loaded the bases for the Boilermakers. A bloop single to second base from Ramos scored Polar, before a wild pitch brought around K. Bailey. Gossett earned her fourth RBI on the day after singling to score both Ramos and pinch-hitter Kylie Franks who walked earlier in the inning. A foul out from Campbell allowed Gossett to tag and score the final run of the inning.
Gossett did it on both sides of the ball, going the full 6.0 innings, striking out five, while earning four RBI on two hits, and scoring a run.
BOILER BITS (vs. Belmont)
Offensive Highlights:
HOW IT HAPPENED
Purdue and Belmont battled out a pitcher's duel for six innings before the Boilermakers fell in the eighth inning.
In the first inning, both teams earned a single, before both also hit into a double play.
The second inning was quiet on both sides, with each team going down in order. Elish surrendered a double in the third inning, but quickly worked out of the jam. In the bottom of the inning, Ashlynn Campbell singled to centerfield, but the Boilers failed to bring her around.
The fourth and fifth innings did not see action on either side, while Belmont earned a lone single in the sixth, but couldn't keep the momentum going.
In the top of the seventh, a Belmont infield single, turned into a runner at second due to an error, which brought Kendall Klochack to relieve Elish on the mound. Klochack worked out of the inning with back-to-back fly outs.
The eighth inning began with a runner placed on base due to the international tie breaker rule. Two hits from Belmont turned into two runs to plate the first in the game. In the last effort for the Boilers, they were unable to get the spark going and fell 2-0 in the final.
UP NEXT
Purdue will close out the Green and Gold Classic on Sunday, Feb. 23, taking on Samford at 10:00 AM ET, before finishing with the host team, UAB, at 12:30 PM ET.
For updates on Purdue Softball, follow the Boilermakers on Twitter (@PurdueSoftball), Instagram (@purduesoftball), and Facebook (Purdue Softball).
Alivia Meeks hit her third home run of the year, which doubled as the third home run of her career in the first game against USI. Madi Elish pitched 6.1 shutout innings against Belmont, before Purdue fell short during the extra-inning international tie breaker.
BOILER BITS (vs. USI)
Offensive Highlights:
- Khloe Banks: 4-for-5, 3B, RBI, SB
- Julia Gossett: 2-for-4, 4 RBI, R
- Moriah Polar: 2-for-5, RBI, 2 R, SB
- Alivia Meeks: 1-for-3, HR, RBI, 2 R
- Julia Gossett (W, 2-4): 6.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 5 K, 21 BF
HOW IT HAPPENED
Khloe Banks started off the game with a bang for the Boilers with a triple to the left center gap. On the next play, Moriah Polar scored Banks from third on a bunt single. Later in the inning, Julia Gossett reached on a throwing error, which earned another run and put Purdue out to a 3-0 lead after the first.
In the second and third innings, both teams worked scoreless frames. Gossett worked out of a jam in the second, before taking down USI in order in the third.
In the fourth, the Boilers added on two more runs. Alivia Meeks led off the inning with a walk, before Ashlynn Campbell worked her way on base, reaching on an error from USI. Banks then singled up the middle to score Meeks. Banks came around to score on an RBI ground out from Kyndall Bailey to close out the top of the fourth with a five-run lead.
As Gossett continued to work in the circle, the Boilers continued to work at the plate. In the top of the fifth, Jordyn Ramos walked, before a single from Gossett had two runners on base. Ramos stole third on USI, and scored on the next play. The Purdue pinch runner for Gossett, Maura Condon, attempted to steal second which drew the throw to the bag, allowing for Ramos to score and put the Boilers up 6-0. Meeks added fuel to the fire, hitting her third home run of the year, a solo shot, which brought Purdue ahead to a seven-run lead.
Purdue continued to add to its lead in the top of the seventh, combining for five runs on five hits. Polar led off the inning with a single, before back-to-back walks loaded the bases for the Boilermakers. A bloop single to second base from Ramos scored Polar, before a wild pitch brought around K. Bailey. Gossett earned her fourth RBI on the day after singling to score both Ramos and pinch-hitter Kylie Franks who walked earlier in the inning. A foul out from Campbell allowed Gossett to tag and score the final run of the inning.
Gossett did it on both sides of the ball, going the full 6.0 innings, striking out five, while earning four RBI on two hits, and scoring a run.
BOILER BITS (vs. Belmont)
Offensive Highlights:
- Khloe Banks: 2-for-3
- Ashlynn Campbell: 1-for-3
- Madi Elish: 6.1 IP, 0 R, 0 ER, 3 K, 25 BF
- Kendall Klochack (L, 2-1): 1.2 IP, 2 R, 1 ER, 1 K, 7 BF
HOW IT HAPPENED
Purdue and Belmont battled out a pitcher's duel for six innings before the Boilermakers fell in the eighth inning.
In the first inning, both teams earned a single, before both also hit into a double play.
The second inning was quiet on both sides, with each team going down in order. Elish surrendered a double in the third inning, but quickly worked out of the jam. In the bottom of the inning, Ashlynn Campbell singled to centerfield, but the Boilers failed to bring her around.
The fourth and fifth innings did not see action on either side, while Belmont earned a lone single in the sixth, but couldn't keep the momentum going.
In the top of the seventh, a Belmont infield single, turned into a runner at second due to an error, which brought Kendall Klochack to relieve Elish on the mound. Klochack worked out of the inning with back-to-back fly outs.
The eighth inning began with a runner placed on base due to the international tie breaker rule. Two hits from Belmont turned into two runs to plate the first in the game. In the last effort for the Boilers, they were unable to get the spark going and fell 2-0 in the final.
UP NEXT
Purdue will close out the Green and Gold Classic on Sunday, Feb. 23, taking on Samford at 10:00 AM ET, before finishing with the host team, UAB, at 12:30 PM ET.
For updates on Purdue Softball, follow the Boilermakers on Twitter (@PurdueSoftball), Instagram (@purduesoftball), and Facebook (Purdue Softball).