University of Minnesota Athletics
Purdue Rallies for Doubleheader Sweep against the Golden Gophers
4/30/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
In the first game, Purdue jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. With two outs, Becky Stone doubled to left center and Erika Peterson followed with a walk. Both would score on Katie Mitchell’s double. Mitchell came around to score on Lauren Devich’s single through the left side.
The lead didn’t last long as Minnesota knotted the game at three in the bottom of the fourth inning. With runners on first and second, pinch hitter Katie Meyer drove home one run with a single to center. With runners on first and third, Lindsey Erickson followed with a two-run double to right center.
Minnesota took the lead in the bottom of the fifth inning. Megan Higginbotham hit the first pitch she saw from Purdue starter Melissa Burns over the left field wall. It was her third home run of the season and 14th of her career.
Purdue rebounded to take the lead for good in the top of the sixth inning. With one on and one out, Mitchell hit a 3-2 pitch over the center field wall to give the Boilermakers a 5-4 lead.
Higginbotham led Minnesota with a home run and a double, while Erickson finished 1-for -4 with two RBI.
Diana LaRiva earned the win in relief for Purdue. She allowed one hit in three innings of work. Burns gave up four runs on five hits in four-plus innings. Redshirt freshman Katie Dalen took the loss for Minnesota after allowing five runs on 10 hits. She struck out eight in the game.
In the second game, Minnesota jumped ahead 1-0 in the top of the second inning. With one out, Meyer singled and reached third on Megan Arns’ double to left. Meyer scored on Stefanie Watt’s sacrifice bunt.
After Purdue tied the game in the fourth inning, the Golden Gophers regained the lead in the fifth. Pinch hitter Rene Konderik singled to right and moved to second on a sacrifice. Erickson then laced a double to the wall to give Minnesota a 2-1 lead.
After the Boilermakers tied the game again in the bottom of the fifth, Minnesota pulled ahead again in the sixth. Higginbotham led off with a double to center and reached third on Valerie Alston’s ground out. She scored on Meyer’s sacrifice fly to deep center.
The lead lasted until the bottom of the seventh. With runners on first and second with one out, Trisha Lilley’s ground ball to second took a wicked hop and jumped over the shoulder of Alston into right field to bring home the tying run. With the bases loaded and two outs, Stone drew the bases loaded walk against Konderik to end the game.
True freshman Briana Hassett received the no decision after allowing two runs on five hits in 4.2 innings. Konderik allowed two runs on three hits in two innings. got the complete- game victory for the Boilermakers. She allowed three runs on six hits in seven innings of work.
Minnesota will host North Dakota State on Wednesday at Jane Sage Cowles Stadium. The doubleheader will begin at 4 p.m.
