March 5, 1999
By Shannon Zappa
TAMPA, Fla. - With one game remaining in pool play, the Purdue softball team (6-3) has put itself in solid position to make bracket play Saturday night at the Speedline Invitational. The Boilers split their two-game schedule today by dropping game one to Tennessee-Chattanooga 6-1 and bouncing back to defeat Temple 6-0 to improve their tournament mark to 3-1.
"This tournament has been an excellent three out of four games for us," Purdue coach Carol Bruggeman said. "We have had the complete package this weekend, solid defense, great pitching and tremendous offensive power."
Purdue got off to a rough start by giving up five Lady Moc runs in the first two innings of game one, but freshman Nicole Crouse took over on the mound with two outs in the second inning and held Tennessee-Chattanooga to one run for the remainder of the game. The Boilers managed two hits, including a double by senior-captain Kristen Billen, while Tennessee bolstered eight. For the Lady Mocs, a first-inning homerun by Megan Luring got the ball rolling and Tennessee put up four more runs in the second.
"We were on our heels a little bit in the first game," Bruggeman said. "Our defense was off just a little and we couldn't get the bats started."
Game two was a different story. Purdue managed to pick up 14 hits in the 6-0 win and Crouse allowed just two Temple balls to get through for hits. The freshman tallied six strikeouts and only two walks in her second complete game of the weekend.
All but three Purdue players who stepped up to the plate managed a hit, including two-of-three pinch hit singles. Seniors Billen, Sam Mercier, and Jenny Barnett led the Boiler charge as the trio combined to go 7-of-12 from the plate, complimented by a 2-for 3 day at the dish by junior Skeeter Nixon.
The Boilers will take on 25th-ranked Florida at 10 a.m. on Saturday to close-out pool play and will start bracket play later that night. If the Boilers defeat the Gators, they will likely win their six-team pool and earn a bye in the first round of bracket play.