Iowa Drops Series Opener at Purdue

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April 2, 2011

Box Score

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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The University of Iowa softball team dropped the series opener at Purdue, 12-1 in five innings, Saturday afternoon at the Varsity Softball Complex. The Boilermakers used a 25 mile per hour wind to their advantage in the contest, connecting on three home runs.

“We gave them too many opportunities,” said UI head coach Marla Looper. “We didn’t stop them early enough. When you give a good ball club, especially a good offensive ball club, more chances, they’re going to take advantage of it and they did.”

The Hawkeyes scored the game’s first run in their opening at-bat. Johnnie Dowling started things off with a one-out double off the left field wall. Senior Stephanie Ochoa then drove her in with a double to left centerfield, making the score 1-0.

The Boilermakers answered with four runs in the bottom of the first inning and 12 unanswered runs to claim the run-rule victory. Erika Petruzzi hit a two-run double in the opening frame to give Purdue the 2-1 lead. Two batters later, Suzie Rzegocki connected on a two-run home run, making the score 4-1.

Lindsey Rains provided Purdue its scoring in the second inning with a solo home run to dead center field. The Boildermakers hit their third long ball in the third frame when Danielle Fletcher connected on a three-run shot over the left field fence.

Purdue then plated four runs on four hits in the bottom of the fourth inning. Lauren Grant and Rains each had two-run hits — Grant a two RBI single, Rains a two RBI double — in the frame.

Iowa had its chances in the second, third and fourth innings, as it put a pair of runners on base in each at-bat. The Hawkeyes, however, couldn’t come up with the hit with runners in scoring position. Iowa left seven runners on bases in the game.

Rzegocki picked up her 17th victory in the circle, allowing one run on seven hits with five strikeouts. Iowa’s Chelsea Lyon (10-9) took the loss, allowing 12 runs (eight earned) on 10 hits in four innings on the rubber.

At the plate, freshman Michelle Zoeller led the squad, tallying the third multi-hit game of her career, going 2-for-3.

Iowa (19-13, 2-1) looks for the series split tomorrow afternoon beginning at 12:05 p.m. The game will be broadcast live on the Big Ten Network.