Boilermakers to face Notre Dame

By Doug Healey
Staff Writer

The Purdue softball team will try to do what the women's basketball team couldn’t do — beat Notre Dame.

The Boilers (25-10-1, 2-2 Big Ten) host a 2 p.m. doubleheader against the Fighting Irish (26-3, 4-0 Big East) today at the Varsity Softball Complex.

The softball team's schedule has a striking resemblance to the women's basketball team's Final Four opponents.

Last week the softball team beat Southwest Missouri State 6-5 on Wednesday, while the basketball team beat them on Friday at the Final Four.

The Boilers play Notre Dame today, just two days after the Purdue women's basketball team lost to the Irish in the national championship.

"The whole softball team is proud of the women's basketball team, and we hope to provide the same excitement against Notre Dame that they did," said coach Carol Bruggeman.

Although the games against the Irish are follow each other closely, Bruggeman said getting back at the Irish is not a top priority for the Boilers.

"There's not a revenge factor," she said. "But it would be nice to ease the pain a little bit for them. We can't get caught up in that, though, or we'll be in trouble."

Purdue is coming off its first weekend of the Big Ten season. The Boilers went 2-2 through the weekend, splitting games against Minnesota and Wisconsin. The Boilers beat Minnesota 10-0 in the first game of a doubleheader on Friday, but lost 5-0 in the second game.

On Saturday, the Boilermakers lost to Wisconsin 3-1, but came back to defeat the Badgers 1-0 on Sunday, notching the team's 15th shutout of the year.

The Irish, who returned 11 players from last year's team that was 47-14, are on an eight-game winning streak and have only yielded three earned runs in the stretch.

Bruggeman said the Boilers' biggest test against the Irish will be their ability to score runs.

The Purdue pitching staff will try to contain Notre Dame's Melanie Alkire, who has been named the Big East Player of the Year in each of the past two seasons. The senior shortstop was an All-American last year.

"Alkire has a lot of power," said Bruggeman. "We are going to try to keep the ball down and get a lot of groundball outs. Our defense has been our strength."

Last year the Boilers were 1-2 against the Fighting Irish. Leighann Burke took the loss in a 4-0 defeat. Nicole Crouse was also on the other end of a shutout, as she lost to Notre Dame 8-0. Meagan Dooley recorded the lone victory against the Irish last season, winning 2-1.

Notre Dame coach Liz Miller coached her 500th game at Notre Dame last weekend, and is 10 wins away from 900 in her 25 year coaching career.

"(Miller) is one of the legends of our game," said Bruggeman. "She brings a presence with her to the field. This is the best team she's had since she's been at Notre Dame."

Bruggeman said her team will have to play well to beat the Irish.

"We have to bring our best game, but we're ready for the challenge," she said.

Fans welcome back women's team

Celebration to honor Boiler's season

Boiler softball to face Notre Dame

Team prepares for nationals in Los Angeles

Cheerleaders head to national competition

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

Online Columnist Archive

Purdue Exponent 2001