Softball team beats Southwest
Missouri State
Sixth-inning rally gives
Boilers fifth straight
win
Shawn McGann
Staff Writer
After waiting out the weather an extra day, the
Purdue softball team defeated Southwest Missouri State 6-5 Wednesday
afternoon at home.
The game, which was originally supposed to be played
Tuesday as a doubleheader, extended Purdue's home winning streak to
five games, and improved the Boilers' record to 23-8-1 overall.
The Boilers started the game well. The first inning
included three Boilermaker doubles. Katie Crabtree started it off with
a double, and Heidi Foster doubled sending Crabtree home for the first
score of the game. Sara Hall added an RBI double later in the inning.
Purdue would add two more runs in the second inning
to go up 4-0.
But the Lady Bears would respond. They put up four
runs in the third inning and added another in the fourth to take the
lead 5-4.
Purdue coach Carol Bruggeman said, "We were ahead
4-0 and cruising right along. All of the sudden we were down. They are
a very good team."
Purdue added two runs in the fifth to take the
lead. Lynne Tortorelli led off for Purdue and doubled down the left
field line and, after advancing to third on a wild pitch, scored on
Jesse Jones' single.
Freshman Nicole Austin pinch-ran for Jones and
advanced to second on a wild pitch. Hall hit a single to deep left field
for the RBI, as Austin crossed the plate with the go-ahead run.
The visitors threatened again in the sixth inning,
but thanks to a putout at home plate, the Boilers maintained their lead.
With solid pitching in the final stages of the game from Leighann Burke
and good defensive play behind her, Purdue held on for the win.
"I thought that our hitting was strong throughout
the day. We put the ball in play very well," Bruggeman said. "We had
a lot of RBIs, doubles, and triples."
The Boilers begin their Big Ten Conference schedule
on Saturday when they take on Minnesota.
"I am glad we had this game going into the Big
Ten season," Bruggeman said. "It showed me that we are able to come
back from adversity.
"That happens in softball sometimes. Things are
going your way, then they don't. You just have to put a couple of solid
innings together to get the momentum back on your side."
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