Notre Dame sweeps Purdue in softball

By Doug Healey
Staff Writer

The Purdue softball team just couldn't come up with the big hit Tuesday in the second of its two losses to No. 11 Notre Dame at the Purdue Varsity Softball Complex.

The Boilers (25-12-1) went an extra inning with the Irish (28-3), losing 4-2 in the eighth.

With one out in the top of the eighth and the score tied at two, reigning Big East player of the year Melanie Alkire hit a Meagan Dooley pitch to left field for a double. After an intentional walk, Lizzy Lemire hit a two-run double to center field.

The Boilers had an opportunity to win the game in the bottom of the seventh inning, but they left the bases loaded. Lynne Tortorelli led off the inning with a double to left field. After a Katie Crabtree sacrifice bunt moved Tortorelli over to third base, Heidi Foster and Jesse Jones were intentionally walked by Irish freshman Kristin Schmidt to load the bases. However, Sara Hall and Angi Roembke both popped out to end the threat.

The Boilers left 12 runners on base as Notre Dame extended its winning streak to 10 games.

Purdue coach Carol Bruggeman said the game was frustrating.

"We have no one to blame but ourselves, said Bruggeman. "When you've got a chance to beat one of the best teams in the country, you've got to do it."

Roembke also acknowledged the Boilers' inability to score runs.

"We get baserunners on and we have our chances, but we don’t execute," said Roembke. "It happens too much."

Although she was disappointed in the loss, Bruggeman gave the Irish credit.

"That's why they're ranked 11th in the country," she said. "The one or two chances they got, they scored on."

Schmidt, who had not given up a run in her four previous starts, improved to 13-1 on the season after pitching eight innings, giving up 10 hits and two earned runs on her birthday.

Meagan Dooley (8-3) took the loss for the Boilermakers, allowing six hits and four earned runs in eight innings.

Roembke said Dooley did a good job of keeping the ball down and letting the defense make plays.

Bruggeman was disappointed the Boilers could not pull out the victory for Dooley.

"Meagan Dooley pitched a great game," said Bruggeman. "We should have won it for her right there when we had bases loaded in the seventh."

In the first game of the doubleheader, the Boilers fell apart, committing three errors and losing 10-2 in a shortened six-inning game because of the eight-run rule.

"That first game was probably our worst performance of the year," said Bruggeman. "We had a few defensive breakdowns and our whole team just fell apart. It was ugly."

The Irish tallied a season-high 14 hits against the Boilermaker pitching staff.

"I think we were a little intimidated by Notre Dame," said Bruggeman. "They swing the bats better than any team we've faced this year."

Senior All-American Jennifer Sharron improved her record to 15-2 with a win in the first game, pitching six innings and allowing two earned runs on four hits.

"I thought she pitched better today than I've seen her pitch in four years," said Bruggeman.

Nicole Crouse took the loss for the Boilers, dropping her recorded to 8-3. In three innings, she gave up five runs (two earned) on six hits.

Leighann Burke also pitched three innings for Purdue, allowing eight hits and five runs (two earned).

After scoring one run in the top of the second, the Irish scored four runs in the third inning.

The Boilers got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth inning when Foster hit a double to left field, scoring Crabtree.

The Fighting Irish added three unearned runs in the fifth inning and two more unearned runs in the sixth, extending its lead to 10-1.

Foster recorded her second RBI of the game in the bottom of the sixth as she singled home Tortorelli, but it wasn’t enough, as the game was called early.

Even though the Boilers played poorly in the first game, Bruggeman was encouraged by her team's effort.

"I'm proud of the way we bounced back in the second game, but we should have come out of here with a split. There's no doubt."

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