Purdue Softball Sweeps IUPUI, Now Faces HoosiersMeagan Dooley cruises to a complete-game, two-hit shutout for her 13th win in game one.April 20, 1999
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. --The Purdue softball team (27-18) avoided a potential trap on Tuesday afternoon. The Boilermakers could have overlooked a doubleheader against IUPUI (21-20) in anticipation of a doubleheader on Wednesday against arch-rival Indiana, but they didn't. Instead, Purdue convincingly swept the Jaguars by scores of 5-0 and 9-1.
"We came out really aggressive," junior Skeeter Nixon said. "That was the key!"
Nixon got things going for the Boilers in the bottom of the first inning of game one. Starting only her second game of the season in the leadoff spot, the Glenwood, Ill., native earned a walk and later scored on an IUPUI error. Senior Mandy Smart added a two-out, two-run single to extend the lead to 3-0.
Purdue added single runs in the third and fifth on RBI-singles by Katie Crabtree and Denise Szany. With a 5-0 lead, freshman pitcher Meagan Dooley cruised to a complete-game, two-hit shutout for her 13th win of the year.
"I thought Dooley did an outstanding job. She was in an attack mode today," coach Carol Bruggeman said.
In game two, Purdue broke the game open in the fifth inning with three runs on four hits, including RBI-singles by Szany and Smart. The Boilers added three more in the sixth to make the final 9-1. Junior Crystal Inman was the winning pitcher for the second time this season, allowing just one earned run in six innings.
"This was Crystal's first start in awhile and I thought she did really well," Bruggeman said. "She did a nice job to get out of some tight situations."
A total of five Boilers had hits in both games against the Jaguars. Sam Mercier, Sarah Humphrey, Crabtree, Smart and Szany helped Purdue raise its' team batting average to .294 on the year.
The Boilermakers will now travel south to challenge Indiana for a doubleheader on Wednesday at 2 p.m. During the last two seasons, the in-state/conference rivalry has produced several exciting games. Wednesday's games should be no different as the Hoosiers try to get back into the Big Ten race with a 3-8 record, while the Boilers try to improve on a 6-6 conference mark. In 1997, Indiana swept a doubleheader at home, but in 1998, the Boilers returned the favor with a sweep in West Lafayette.
"Today's wins were a big confidence booster for IU tomorrow," Bruggeman said. "Whenever Purdue and IU meet, fireworks happen."
R H E
IUPUI 0 2 3
Purdue 5 6 2
|
