Indiana Returns to Winning Ways With 2-1 Victory Against Purdue
May 13, 2011
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- After having its winning streak snapped at Northwestern on Sunday, the Hoosiers (36-16, 16-3 Big Ten) returned home to host in-state rival Purdue (30-17-2, 8-8-1 Big Ten) and used a trio of errors in the bottom of the fifth inning to score two runs and take the 2-1 decision.
Indiana starting pitcher Morgan Melloh (31-15) kept the second-best hitting lineup in the conference to just four hits and registered 12 strikeouts in the contest. Her season total now stands at 470, setting a new Big Ten record for strikeouts in a season, surpassing Lisa Ishikawa's previous record of 469 set in 1984. Melloh also has 214 strikeouts in Big Ten play, just five away from the Big Ten single-season record for strikeouts in conference games.
Breanna Saucedo had two hits for the Hoosiers, her 16th multi-hit game of the season and extended to a seven-game hit streak. Melloh was the only other IU player to register a hit in the game, as she collected a pair of singles.
The game featured nearly as many errors (7) as hits (8) but the Hoosiers were able to take advantage of the miscues. In the fifth inning, Cassie Gogreve reached on a fielding error and then pinch-runner Kelsey Stander moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Shelby Gogreve. Standed then moved to third base on a groundout by Samantha Heyman and crossed the plate on another error to tie the game at 1-1. Another fielding error on the infield on a ball hit by Ashley Warrum put runners at the corner with two outs. The eventual winning run then came in on a passed ball as a pitch up out of the strike zone skipped off the catcher's glove and all the way to the backstop, allowing Saucedo to scamper home.
Purdue had taken the lead in the top of the first inning when Lindsey Rains it a slow tapper in front of the plate and she was able to beat the throw to first base. The throw got away from the IU defense and trickled down the right field line and allowed Rains to circle the bases for a single and a three-base error.
The Boilermakers' starting pitcher Suzie Rzegocki (26-15) took the loss, allowing two unearned runs on four hits while walking one and striking out four.
With the win, the Hoosiers remain in second place in the Big Ten, just a game behind Michigan for the Big Ten lead with a game to play.
Saturday's game will start at 1:00 p.m., but 15 minutes prior to first pitch the three Indiana seniors (Sara Olson, Kelsey Stander and Morgan Melloh) will be recognized for their contributions to IU softball.
