March 27, 1999
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - The Purdue softball team (16-11) has split four consecutive doubleheaders after defeating Bradley (8-7) and losing to Central Michigan (16-4) on Saturday in the Boilermaker Classic. The Boilers upended Bradley 4-3 in eight innings before falling to the Chippewas 8-0 in game two. Purdue will conclude action at the six-team tournament on Sunday when it hosts Loyola (7-15) at 1 p.m. and Indiana State (4-14) at 3 p.m.
After the first day of competition, No. 8 Michigan (23-5-1) and No. 25 Central Michigan are the only teams that remain undefeated at 2-0. Purdue and Loyola (Ill.) are both 1-1, while Bradley and Indiana State are both 0-2. The round-robin tournament will crown its champion after the 3 p.m. game on Sunday at the Varsity Softball Complex. Tournament awards will include 12 all-tournament team picture frames, an MVP plaque and acrylic trophies for the tourney champ and runner-up.
Against the Braves, seniors Jenny Barnett and Mandy Smart both went 3-for-4 at the plate. Barnett's RBI single in the second inning brought home the game's first run in freshman Katie Crabtree. Purdue added two more runs in the second on a single by Sam Mercier and a Bradley error to take a 3-0 advantage. The Braves battled back to tie the score with two runs in the fourth and one in the fifth and it stayed that way until the eighth.
With international tie-breaker rules in effect, Purdue's last batter from the seventh inning, Crabtree, was placed on second base. An RBI-single by freshman Chrissy Davie brought Crabtree home and gave the Boilers the lead for good at 4-3. In the bottom of the eighth, a failed suicide-squeeze attempt by Bradley secured the win for Purdue, as sophomore catcher Keely Povlitz picked the runner off third after the bunt attempt. Freshman pitcher Meagan Dooley (9-5) went the distance for the win.
In game two, Central Michigan scored six runs on five hits and one error in the top of the first. The Chippewas added two more runs in the third, as Purdue struggled offensively and defensively throughout. Purdue managed just two hits and committed three errors. Freshman pitcher Nicole Crouse (7-6) suffered the loss.
One highlight for the Boilers on the day was in the stolen-base category. Purdue had six steals on Saturday, pushing its season total to 54-61. A year ago, Purdue had 56 steals in 59 games. Stolen-base leaders for Purdue include: Katie Crabtree (13-13), Mandy Smart (11-11), Skeeter Nixon (11-14) and Sam Mercier (5-5).
DAY ONE SCORES at THE BOILERMAKER CLASSIC
R H E
Purdue 4 12 0
Bradley 3 9 3
Central Mich. 8 10 1
Purdue 0 2 3
Central Mich. 3 7 2
Indiana State 2 6 0
Loyola 6 10 0
Bradley 0 4 2
Michigan 11 11 0
Indiana State 0 1 0
Loyola 0 8 1
Michigan 11 11 0