Purdue Takes Walkoff Winner In Game Two

Friday, March 24

West Lafayette, Ind.

6:30 PM

Michigan State University

15-10, 0

Purdue

12-21, 0

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	Runs R	Hits H	Errors E
Michigan State	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	4	1
Purdue	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	8	0

3/24/2017 12:00:00 AM | Softball

Box Score

March 24, 2017

Box Score | PDF Box Score: PUR 2, MSU 1

SPARTAN SYNOPSIS

A three-base throwing error in the bottom of the seventh turned a leadoff single into the game-winning run for Purdue, as the homestanding Boilers took the bottom half of the Big Ten doubleheader by a 2-1 score on Friday night in West Lafayette.

Entering the bottom of the seventh tied 1-1, leadoff hitter Maya Hughes laid down a bunt, and the throw from third skipped past first baseman Sarah Gutknecht and rolled into the far corner of foul territory in right field. This allowed Hughes to come around to score and give the Boilermakers a 2-1 victory.

Kristina Zalewski tossed a complete game, scattering eight hits and just one earned run, striking out three and walking just one. She also threw two innings of relief in the top half of the doubleheader. Kaitlynn Moody went the distance for the Boilermakers - her sixth complete game of the season - allowing four hits, striking out one and walking one. Both pitchers allowed just one earned run in the contest.

The teams raked their way through a 19-run affair in the first game of the doubleheader, but the nightcap was a pitchers duel, as there was just one run (for the Boilers ) and a total of eight hits on the board through five innings. The Boilers got their run in the bottom of the first on an Alexa Binckes single brought home Maya Hughes for an early lead, and MSU rallied for a two-out RBI double from Ebonee Echols in the top of the sixth to knot the game 1-1.

The teams will close out their three-game series with an 1 pm game on Saturday. With the forecast, please follow Spartan Softball on Twitter (@MSUSoftball) or check MSUSpartans.com for the most recent updates to the game schedule.

TOP PERFORMERS

Kristina Zalewski tossed a complete game, her second of the season, and allowed just one run, scattering eight hits.
Ebonee Echols had a game-tying TBI double in the sixth inning, going 2-for-3 in the game.
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STATS AND STORYLINES

In the bottom of the first, a leadoff single by Maya Hughes and hit batter put two on with one out for Alexa Binckes, who singled to bring home Hughes for a 1-0 lead. With two runners in scoring position and just one out, Hoppman was thrown out at the plate on a Kaylah Hampton offering, and Brooke Perry grounded out to end the inning.

Purdue pitcher Kaitlynn Moody limited the Spartans to just two base hits over the first four innings,

The Boilers got something going in the fourth, when two of the first three batters reached on singles. Stephanie Ramsey stepped in with one out and laid down a perfect bunt single to load the bases for the top of the order and leadoff hitter Maya Hughes, but her grounder to short was quickly relayed home by McKenzie Long, keeping a run off the board. Kristen Hoppman stepped in with the bases loaded and two down, and Zalewski got her to go down swinging on a full count to deny the home team a run in the frame.

The Spartans staged a two-out rally in the top of the sixth. With two out, Lea Foerster legged out an infield single and Ebonee Echols laced a double to center that just eluded the glove of the diving fielder to bring Foerster around to score and knot the game at 1-1.