 "Photo:")
Finding themselves on the wrong end of a doubleheader sweep, the Miami University women's softball team (14-29-1) dropped a pair of midweek games to the Purdue Boilermakers (21-25-1) Tuesday.
In the first game, the Red and White came up just short in an extra-inning struggle, falling to Purdue 4-2. Things didn't get better in the second game, as the Boilermaker's run-ruled the 'Hawks 13-0, in five innings.
"In the first game, both teams didn't play very good defense," Head Coach Kelly Schoenly said. "It was a sloppy game all around, it just came down to who was going to scrape it together in the end."
Purdue scored first in game one as it took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning after capitalizing off of a Miami throwing error. The Boilermakers tallied their second run of the game in the top of the fifth when Alicia Spack led off the inning with a home run, her first of two on the day.
In the bottom of the fifth, Miami cut Purdue's lead to one, and then went on to tie up the game as Alicia Hogl led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run - her sixth of the season - tying the Miami freshmen single-season home run record.
A scoreless seventh inning forced the game into extra innings. Purdue loaded the bases in the eighth and used Purdue sophomore Candace Curtis's single to score the eventual winning runs.
Coming off of a tough loss, the RedHawks were looking to break out in the second game.
However, in the top of the third, the Boilermakers took the lead as Spack connected on her second home run of the day, just over the outstretched arms of 'Hawks centerfielder Hogl.
Purdue sophomore Catherine Zaworski posted an infield single then scored off a double from teammate Katie Mitchell. Kelsey Haupert picked up the RBI with a single through the right side staking the Boilermakers to a 3-0 lead.
"The biggest challenge in the second game was trying not to defeat ourselves," said senior Leslie Macedo. "It's not the hitter, and it's not Purdue. It's being able to get yourself mentally back in the game."
Miami, seeking to get back in the game, threatened the Boilermakers in the bottom of the third putting sophomore Ashley Gartland and Hogl on base. But the RedHawks couldn't manage to come up with a run.
It was the fifth inning that saw the Boilermakers steamroll the RedHawks.
Purdue sent 14 batters to the plate, as six hits and four walks accounted for the Boilermakers' 10 runs in the inning.
Purdue loaded the bases with no outs and scored three runs on a trio of walks before the RedHawk defense record its first out. Purdue kept finding the gaps in the field to continue its slaughter over the 'Hawks. Freshman Ashley Barr made it an 8-0 game with a two-run single to the left center gap, plating Amy Butcher and Haupert.
Spack drew a walk to load the bases once again, sending Zaworski to the plate who placed a two-run single just over the head of third baseman Briana Burke. Curtis made it 13-0 with a two-run double to right center, before a ground ball to the pitcher ended the inning.
"When the hitting becomes contagious like that, it is hard to stop a team, and Purdue is a good Big Ten team," Schoenly said.
Despite the overwhelming battle on defense, the Red and White was determined not to give up with out a fight. With one out, Natalie Savona reached first base on a drop third strike before being joined on base by Sarah Billstrom who singled to left, and Halle Popson who walked.
However, the RedHawk attack came up far short, as Boilermaker third baseman Ashley Hall caught a foul ball then fielded a ground out to seal the Purdue win.
"In the next couple of days we have to work on remembering that we are a confident team," Macedo said. "Everyone has off days, but I think our ability to bounce back is very strong."
The RedHawks are going to need to uncover their confidence as they look to bounce back when they travel to Bowling Green to take on the Falcons in another doubleheader matchup Friday.
