Yes, this is an article on Purdue softball. I figured that since today was a slow day it would be a good time to give an update on one of the less covered programs here at the site. Purdue Softball has been on the verge of a breakthrough for a few years. It always seems like the ladies come up a little short, but are competitive against a difficult schedule.
That was the case this weekend, as the ladies played in the LSU Tiger Classic down in Baton Rouge. Purdue went 2-3 on the weekend, losing to a pair of top 25 teams.
Purdue 4, Hampton 0
Erika Petruzzi threw a complete game shutout and scattered five hits as the boilers got the 2013 season off to a positive started This one was scoreless through four, but Purdue added a run in the top of the fifth, two in the sixth, and an insurance run in the seventh. Leadoff hitter Lindsey Rains got Purdue on the board with a sacrifice fly in the fifth that scored Paris Andrew. Andrew would do more work in the sixth with a two run single that scored Petruzzi and Andie Varsho.
No. 10 LSU 1, Purdue 0
Purdue had an excellent shot at knocking off a top 10 team, but could not push across a run. LSU's Meghan Peterson struck out six and gave up just three hits. Purdue had a great chance in the fifth with a leadoff walk followed by a single from Andrew, but could not push across a run. A Kellsi Kloss homer in the bottom of the fifth off of Lilly Fecho was enough for the LSU win.
No. 22 North Carolina 2, Purdue 1 (9 innings)
The Boilers worked extra inning Saturday morning against another ranked team, but once again came up just short. After Carolina took a 1-0 lead after two innings it looked like another hard luck 1-0 loss, but Purdue tied it on a bases loaded sac fly with one out in the seventh by Ashley Burkhardt. Unfortunately, the Boilers would strand 13 runners on the day. Purdue got the first two outs easily in the ninth, but the Tar Heels went walk, bunt single, double for the win.
Tulsa 4, Purdue 1
Tulsa broke a 1-1 tie with an RBI single in the fourth and added two runs in the top of the seventh to make Saturday a two-loss day for Purdue. Purdue's lone run came in the bottom of the second on a single by Burkhardt that scored Varsho.
Purdue 5, Tulsa 0
A Sunday rematch with the Golden Hurricane finally saw everything go Purdue's way. Varsho was 2 for 4 at the plate and scored two runs while Lexy Moore gave up only three hits in five innings of work. Lilly Fecho then came on for the final two innings and struck out two of six batters faced. Danielle Fletcher and Burkhardt each had two RBI for Purdue.
Tulsa was in the "Others Receiving Votes" category for last week's top 25, and after going 3-2 with a win over North Carolina they could be ranked this week.
Purdue now heads to Utah State for the Hillenbrand Invitational. Purdue will face Utah State, Drake, No. 14 Arizona, Southern Utah, and Nebraska in a non-conference game.