Purdue prepares for doubleheader

By Shawn McGann
Staff Writer

Purdue's softball team will try to improve on its 29-21-1 record as it plays a doubleheader against Western Michigan at 2 p.m. today at the Varsity Softball Complex.

Purdue is fresh off of a two-game sweep of Northwestern. The wins marked the end of a six-game losing streak for the Boilermakers.

"It will be really nice for us to play at home on Wednesday," Purdue coach Carol Bruggeman said in a press release. "I think we really played well this weekend in all four Big Ten games."

Western Michigan is coming to West Lafayette after being shut out by Michigan State 2-0 Tuesday afternoon. Western Michigan had a four-game winning streak before the loss.

Bruggeman said, "We're going to look to continue to play well, not just win. We really want to get the offense going and have some big output without bats to get those wins."

Offensively, Purdue's most productive players have been Katie Crabtree and Heidi Foster. Crabtree leads the team with a .353 batting average and 24 RBIs. Crabtree has also knocked out five home runs this season. Foster is batting .296 but has hit a team-high seven home runs and brought in 23 RBIs.

Leighann Burke heads Purdue's defense on the mound. She stands in with a record of 11-10 and has an ERA of 1.05. Burke has nine complete games this season. Meagan Dooley and Nicole Crouse, Purdue's other pitchers, have a record of 9-6 and 9-5, respectively.

Western Michigan's biggest threat is shortstop Angie Fiero. Fiero, playing extremely well as of late, was named Mid-American Conference player of the week on Monday. She leads the Broncos with a .296 batting average.

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SPORTS DESK PHONE:
(765) 743-1111 ext. 251

Sports editor:
Paul Trembacki

Assistant sports editor:
Anne McLaren

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