Softball team seeks improvement
For the second consecutive weekend the Purdue softball
team went 1-3.
After splitting a doubleheader with Penn State
Friday, the Boilers (27-18-1, 4-8 Big Ten) dropped two defensive struggles
in a row to Ohio State at the Purdue Varsity Softball Complex.
The weekend culminated with a 2-1 loss to the Buckeyes
(33-12, 7-3) Saturday.
"Today was a great game," said Purdue coach Carol
Bruggeman. "It was really well-played by both teams and, unfortunately,
we were just a few RBI short of the win.
"We're still just having a little trouble finding
a 'W' right now. But we'll keep going and fighting back."
After falling behind, 2-0 in the first inning,
Purdue tried to come back in the bottom half of the inning.
Sophomore third baseman Jesse Jones singled to
left field and had sophomore Briana Hensley pinch run for her at first.
Senior Lynne Tortorelli singled to drive in Hensley.
The Boilers, who had six hits in the game, threatened
several times later in the game, but each comeback attempt failed.
Junior Nicole Crouse (9-4) took the loss, pitching
four innings and allowing seven hits and two earned runs for Purdue.
She had one walk and one strikeout.
The offensive futility against Ohio State wasn't
limited to Sunday.
The Boilers fell 2-0 to the Buckeyes Saturday.
"Today our pitchers did a nice job and we really
didn't look bad," said Bruggeman. "We played good defense, but right
now we're not able to put all three elements of the game together at
once. We need to get them all working together."
Ohio State did not score until the top of the fifth
inning. Pitcher Kristi De Vries doubled and advanced to third of a fielder's
choice and scored on a sacrifice fly.
Ohio State extended the lead to 2-0 in the top
of the sixth when outfielder Anna Smith singled, stole second base,
advanced to third on an error and scored on a double to by catcher Stacy
Roth.
Purdue first baseman Heidi Foster ended the day
2-for-3 with singles to center field in both the fourth and seventh
innings, the latter driving in Purdue's lone run.
"Defensively, we're there," said Foster. "Our pitchers
are doing a fantastic job, but we need to put all three elements of
the game together to come away with wins."
Sophomore Leighann Burke (10-8) took the loss.
She pitched five innings and allowed six hits and two earned runs. She
walked one and struck out one.
The Boiler pitchers gave up a few more runs at
the start of the weekend.
On Friday the Boilers split a doubleheader with
Penn State, beating the Nittany Lions 5-4 in 10 innings in the first
game, and falling 8-0 in the second game.
"We are still struggling to find consistency,"
said Bruggeman. "It's really tough to get down in the first inning and
then have to come back from that. I think that we all believed that
we could win that first game and we really fought hard to get it. It
was a great team win and an excellent game all around. The second game,
Penn State beat us soundly and they deserved the win."
In the top of the 10th inning in the first game,
Purdue was able to get out of the inning with the bases loaded after
a walk, a single and an advance on the throw, and a fielder's choice
to take the out at home, followed by another walk.
In the bottom of that inning, Foster led off with
a single up the middle. Then, with runners at first and second and two
outs, Angi Roembke singled to the shortstop, as Andrea Roush advanced
to second and then took off to third on a miffed throw by the shortstop,
allowing Foster to advance to third on the hit and then go home on the
error. It was Purdue's first extra-inning win of the season.
Crouse got the win for Purdue in relief. She pitched
4.1 innings, allowing three hits and no runs. She walked three and struck
out one.
In the second game, the Boilermakers struggled
to find consistency and fell 8-0 in four and a half innings. The game
ended early because it was out of reach so early.
Junior Meagan Dooley made the start and took the
loss, falling to 8-6 on the season. She pitched 1.2 innings, allowed
seven hits and six runs. She had two strikeouts.
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