Softball team faces two doubleheaders at home

The Purdue softball team will be at home this weekend against Illinois and Ohio University.

Both games will be doubleheaders that start at 2 p.m. Purdue will play Illinois on Friday and Ohio on Saturday.

The Boilermakers enter the weekend's competitions with a 30-22-1 (6-10 Big Ten) record. The Illini are 44-19 (10-6 Big Ten) and the Bobcats have a 29-19 record.

"We look forward to having a Big Ten weekend at home," said Purdue coach Carol Bruggeman. "Right now, we have solid pitching and defense and we're confident that we'll be successful."

Purdue shortstop Katie Crabtree leads the squad with a .348 batting average and 57 hits in 164 plate appearances. Crabtree has also tallied 30 runs and 24 RBIs.

Close behind is sophomore Andrea Roush with a .320 batting average and 49 hits in 153 plate appearances. Roush has 16 runs and nine RBIs.

Sophomore first baseman Heidi Foster is third on the team with a .282 batting average and is quickly moving up the list with her 42 hits in 149 plate appearances. Foster also has 11 runs and 23 RBI. She leads the team in home runs with seven and is third in the Big Ten. Foster's defense has also played a major role in the team's success this season, as she is first in the Big Ten in both chances and putouts and is tied for first in fielding double plays.

On the mound for Purdue, sophomore Leighann Burke leads the staff with a 1.05 ERA and an 11-10 record. She has made 21 starts and 36 appearances for 166.1 total innings. Burke has allowed 117 hits, 56 runs and 58 walks, while striking out 141 batters.

The Illini lead the Big Ten in eight different team categories, including hits, doubles, runs scored, RBIs and total bases.

Leading the way for Illinois is Lindsey Hamma. She leads the Big Ten with 64 hits in 190 at-bats. She also has scored 32 runs and has 25 RBIs.

The Illini's top pitcher is Amanda Fortune; she has a 1.15 ERA and an 18-11 record. She has allowed 145 hits, 42 runs and 23 walks and has struck out 129 batters.

Ohio is led at the plate by Kelli Bankert; she has a .354 average and 52 hits in 147 at-bats.

Val Wood is the leading Bobcat pitcher with a 1.06 ERA and a 14-3 record. She has allowed 79 hits, 32 runs and 25 walks, and has struck out 109 batters.

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Softball team faces two doubleheaders at home

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Sports editor:
Paul Trembacki

Assistant sports editor:
Anne McLaren

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