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Softball to open Big Ten
season
 By
Doug Healey
Staff Writer
The Purdue softball team will begin Big Ten action
with games against Minnesota and Wisconsin this weekend.
The Boilers (23-8-1) play a doubleheader today
at 2 p.m. against Minnesota (21-9-1) at the Varsity Softball Complex.
The Golden Gophers have a nine-game winning streak.
The Boilermakers, who finished 6-10 in the Big Ten last season, have
won five in a row after beating Southwest Missouri State 6-5 on Wednesday.
"Something's got to give," said coach Carol Bruggeman.
"Both teams are playing well, but we try to focus on our strengths."
Last year, the Boilers split two games against
Minnesota. Nicole Crouse beat the Gophers in 4-3, while Meagan Dooley
took the loss in a 9-2 defeat. Crouse will start the first game today
and try to beat Minnesota for the second consecutive year. Leighann
Burke will start the second game.
Purdue running backs coach Leroy Keyes will throw
out the first pitch before the start of the first game of the doubleheader.
The Boilers play No. 21 Wisconsin (17-12) at 2
p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday at the Varsity Softball Complex. Last
season Wisconsin defeated Purdue twice, 1-0 and 5-4, respectively. Dooley
and Crouse took the losses for the Boilers. This year the Badgers are
ranked because they have a strong schedule.
"Wisconsin played a really tough schedule early
on, and I think that helped them," said Bruggeman.
Bruggeman said nothing is decided on the first
weekend of Big Ten play.
"We need to keep it all in perspective," she said.
"It starts on the mound and with solid defense."
The team's confidence is high.
"We have to shift gears, but I don't think we're
satisfied," she said. "We still have our best softball yet to play.
We haven't come close to our peak yet, so hopefully we'll put it all
together."
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Final
Four Coverage:
ND-Purdue
matchup offers team balance
Boilers
hope to overcome December Irish loss with maturity
Two
state teams battle for title in St. Louis
What
happened in December matchup?
Rebounding
pushes Purdue to title game
Stopping
Lady Bears' leader was top priority
Notre
Dame 90, Connecticut 75
Purdue
vs. Notre Dame for NCAA championship
Friday
Coverage:
Hoosier
teams prepare for Final Four
Boilers
battle Bears tonight
Notre
Dame, Connecticut matchup draws attention
Keady
agrees to contract extension through 2005
Tennis
team looks to beat Illinois
Boilers
hope to overthrow IU tennis team
Outdoor
track teams prepare for Purdue Open
Boilers
travel to MSU for series
Softball
to open Big Ten season
Boilers
hope experience pays off this weekend
Final
Four ticket demand exceeds school’s supply
Golfer
earns Big Ten honor
SPORTS DESK PHONE:
(765) 743-1111
ext. 251
Sports editor:
Paul Trembacki
Assistant sports
editor:
Anne
McLaren
To
send a letter to the editor, please email opinions@purdueexponent.org
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