1st Inning Long Ball Downs Iowa

Stats

April 3, 2011

Box Score

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WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. — The University of Iowa softball team fell short in the series finale at Purdue, dropping a 3-0 decision Sunday afternoon at the Varsity Softball Complex. The Boilermakers struck for three runs in the first inning, and they held up, as pitcher Suzie Rzegocki limited the Hawkeyes to three hits.

“You take the first inning away and we’re still in this ball game, trying to plug away and get some runners on,” said UI head coach Marla Looper. “We didn’t do what we needed to offensively after seeing that pitcher for a day. We should have made some better adjustments, but we didn’t, so the outcome didn’t end up in our direction.”

Purdue plated all three runs in the first inning to take a 3-0 advantage. Andie Varsho got things started with a one-out single up the middle and moved to second on a stolen base. Following a groundout and an Erika Petruzzi walk, catcher Shelby Krammer connected on a three-run long ball deep over the centerfield fence to give the Boilermakers the early advantage.

That’s all Rzegocki needed in the circle, as the senior allowed just three hits in the contest. The senior struck out seven Iowa batters in the complete game shutout to improve to 18-7 on the season.

Iowa put its first two runners on base in the second inning on a Stephanie Ochoa single and a Liz Watkins hit by pitch. Brianna Luna then moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt, but Iowa couldn’t scratch a run across the plate as Rzegocki had a strikeout and groundout to end the threat.

Iowa starter Kayla Massey settled in to a groove after surrendering the first inning home run. The freshman allowed three hits over the final six innings to keep Iowa in the contest. Massey scattered a total of five hits and struck out four Purdue batters in the game.

Ochoa, sophomore Ashley Akers and Luna accounted for Iowa’s three hits. Luna had a one-out double in the seventh inning, but was left stranded there to end the game.

Iowa (19-14, 2-2) heads to Des Moines, Iowa, on Wednesday for a mid-week match-up at Drake beginning at 4 p.m.

Purdue 3, Iowa 0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	R	H	E
Iowa (19-14, 2-2)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	0
Purdue (21-8, 2-0)	3	0	0	0	0	0	X	3	5	1
Game Decision
W: Suzie Rzegocki (PUR) 18-7
L: Kayla Massey (UI) 9-5