March 25, 2000

Box Score

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue softball team split their two games on the opening day of the Boilermaker Invitational at the Varsity Softball Complex in West Lafayette. The Boilermakers (16-15) defeated Kent 2-1 and fell to Bradley 3-1 in the opening two games of the six team tournament.

The Boilers used a seventh inning two run homer by designated player Crystal Inman to steal the victory away from the Golden Flashes. Kent scored an unearned run off Purdue starter Meagan Dooley in the sixth to take a 1-0 lead. With Purdue struggling offensively all game long, stranding runners on base in the first six innings, it appeared as if the lone run might carry the Flashes to victory.

Needing three outs to win, Kent starter Kerri Evens walked Jessica Jones to lead off the bottom of the seventh. Chrissy Davie sacrificed Jones to second, who then moved on to third on a pass ball. With the game tying run 60 feet away, Inman ended the game with her blast to left center. The walk-off home run was the first collegiate round tripper for the senior from Middletown, Ind.

"Crystal stepped up and did what a senior should in that situation," coach Carol Bruggeman said. "With the offense struggling, we needed a big one and she really came through. That one hit gave the whole team a huge lift."

Dooley (5-5) picked up the victory, pitching her second consecutive complete game. The sophomore struck out five and induced 13 ground ball outs. With the lone run unearned, her season ERA fell to 0.50 for the season. Andrea Roush finished the game 2-for-2 with a sacrifice.

Against Bradley, the Boilermakers jumped out to early 1-0 in the second inning, but failed to preserve the lead as they could only manage four hits over the final five innings and four for the game. Bradley rallied in the sixth, scoring three runs on four hits.

Starter Leighann Burke (5-5) pitched well in the loss, striking out a career high nine batters in six innings of work, while giving up only five hits. Sophomore Katie Crabtree collected two of Purdue's four hits finishing 2-for-3.

"We got two very good pitching performances today," Bruggeman said. "Both Leighann and Meagan deserved to win. Offensively we need to stay aggressive. We can't score one run and then try and hang on for the rest of the game. We have to keep going back for more, attack. I am very proud that we didn't quit against Kent. Hopefully we learned that we are never out of a game."

In other games Michigan defeated Toledo 14-0 in five innings and Notre Dame 5-1. The Fighting Irish downed Kent 12-4, while Bradley defeated Toledo 3-1.

The Invitational resumes tomorrow at nine when Bradley takes on Michigan. The Boilermakers play at 1 and 3 p.m. against Toledo and Notre Dame, respectively.