Feb. 20, 2000

By Tom Schott

RALEIGH N.C. - Sophomore pitcher Meagan Dooley continued her blazing start to the 2000 season Sunday morning with a four-hit shutout over Radford at the Traingle Classic.

The Boilermakers won 3-0 to stay alive in the tournament and will take on Wright State at 2 p.m.

Dooley pitched a no-hitter against Temple on Saturday. Her Johnny Vander Meer bid at back-to-back no-no's was broken up with one out in the top of the third inning on a clean single to right field by Radford right fielder Nicki Donadio. Dooley subsequently gave up a singles in the fourth (on the infield), fifth and seventh. She struck out four and walked none.

"Meagan is such a competitor, and she's a winner," Purdue coach Carol Bruggeman said. "All she wants to do is go out and beat you. That's what makes her special."

Radford had a runner at third with one out in the seventh, but after left fielder Stacie Morioka grounded out to second, catcher Shelly Guy was thrown out attempting to score on a perfect throw from first baseman Heidi Foster to catcher Keely Povlitz.

Since giving up a run to Arkansas in the bottom of the seventh inning Feb. 12, Dooley has pitched 14 consecutive scoreless innings, allowing four hits with two walks and five strikeouts. In five games this season, the right-hander from Phoenix owns a microscopic 0.27 ERA (one earned run in 26.1 innings) with a 2-2 record. She has given up merely 14 hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. Opponents are batting a meager .156 against her (14-for-90).

Sophomore shortstop Katie Crabtree provided the offensive fireworks against the Highlanders with two triples and a double in three at-bats. Her run-scoring double in the bottom of the first plated left fielder Shahara Nixon, and Crabtree scored on a passed ball after tripling in the fifth. Center fielder Lynne Tortorelli doubled home second baseman Andrea Roush in the fourth.

The Boilermakers (3-7) finished with seven hits against Radford starting and losing pitcher Deana Benner.