University of Minnesota Athletics
SB: Minnesota Splits at Purdue
4/24/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
In the first game, Minnesota jumped ahead early with a run in the first inning. With two outs, Megan Higginbotham singled up the middle and then reached second on a wild pitch. Valerie Alston picked up the RBI with a single to center off of Purdue starter Brooke Baker.
The Boilermakers answered in the bottom of the first inning. Trisha Lilley singled to start the inning and Katie Absher walked. After the runners were moved to second and third, All-American Andrea Hillsey walked to load the bases. DaQueta Johnson followed with a pop-up to short which dropped and allowed the tying run to score. Purdue took its first lead of the game in the second inning as Erika Peterson hit a leadoff home run to left.
Minnesota regained the lead in the third inning. With one out, Higginbotham singled to left field. Alston followed with a ground ball to second, which was dropped by shortstop Tricia Lilley. Higginbotham took off for third and Lilley’s throw sailed into the Purdue dugout to allow her to score. Keeney followed with an RBI single up the middle to make it 3-2.
The Golden Gophers capitalized again on Purdue errors in the fourth inning. Minnesota scored four runs in the stanza to take a 7-2 lead. Higginbotham picked up an RBI with a fielder’s choice, while Stephanie Sward scored on a double steal. Higginbotham would come around to score on another Boilermaker error.
Purdue cut the lead to 7-4 with a pair of runs in the bottom of the inning. With one out, the Boilermakers loaded the bases with three straight singles. Lilley followed with a two- run double to left field.
Higginbotham tacked on another RBI with a single to left field in top of the seventh inning. Senior Lyn Peyer closed out the game by retiring nine of the last 10 batters she faced. She earned her 20th complete game of the season.
Higginbotham led the way at the plate with three hits, three runs and two RBI. The Sward sisters had two hits apiece, as well as three runs scored.
In the second game, Minnesota couldn’t touch Purdue starter Diana LaRiva. She allowed just one hit in the five-inning victory. She finished with three strikeouts and improved to 12-4 on the season.
The first five Boilermakers reached base as Purdue took a 4-0 first inning lead. Hillsey had an RBI single, while Johnson added a two-run single to center. The Boilermakers extended the lead to 6-0 with two runs in the second inning. Johnson and Peterson picked up RBI singles.
Hillsey struck again in the fourth with an RBI double, while Catherine Zaworski made it 8 -0 with her first career home run to left field in the fifth inning. The Boilermakers tacked on one more run in the 9-0 victory.
The Golden Gophers return to action next weekend when they travel to face Illinois and Iowa.
