Rutgers Softball Splits With Buffalo and Purdue

Friday, March 11

Boca Raton, Fla.

Rutgers University

8-7

Buffalo

2-11

Buffalo

Rutgers

Rutgers Softball Splits With Buffalo and Purdue

Mar 11 | Softball

Box Score 1 Box Score 2

Boca Raton, Fla. (March 11, 2011) – Rutgers softball (8-8) split the day at Parents’ Weekend on the campus of Florida Atlantic University, defeating Buffalo, 3-2, and falling to Purdue, 6-5. Senior Mandy Craig (Manassas, Va.) hit a three-run blast to power the Scarlet Knights past the Bulls.

The Bulls got on the board first in the second inning as Alyssa Ward singled through the left side to start the inning off. After a sacrifice bunt and an overthrow, Ward was able to score unearned and put UB up 1-0. 

The Scarlet Knights fought back in the bottom of the third, as Kaci Madden (Saratoga, N.Y.) led off with a walk. Lindsey Curran (Monroe Twp., N.J.) pinch ran for the catcher and stole second and a groundout advanced the junior to third. A Brittney Lindley (Cicero, N.Y.) walk put runners at first and third for Craig who blasted a three-run home run over the center field wall.

UB attempted a comeback, as Kristin Waldron notched a RBI single up the middle to bring the Bulls within one.

Freshman Megan Williams (Richmond, Va.) held on for RU, allowing one earned run off five hits in seven innings. The rookie fanned two and walked just one batter.

Purdue took an early 2-0 lead as Shelby Krammer blasted a two-run homer to left center field in the bottom of the first inning. Rutgers answered immediately as junior Mikelyn Messina (Prospect, Conn.) was hit by a pitch and stole second, setting up a RBI single to center by Mickenzie Alden (Spokane, Wash). 

The Boilermakers added three runs on five hits and a RU error in the third to go up by four, 5-1. Erika Petruzzi notched two RBI on a single up the middle for PU.

The Scarlet Knights added a run on a throwing error by the Purdue third baseman. Sophomore Ashley Bragg (Middletown, Del.) used her speed to score from first to put RU within three. Rutgers tied the game in the fifth as Loren Williams (Los Angeles, Calif.) bunted for a single to start off the inning. Lindley got on base with a single to left field and Craig moved both runners over with a sacrifice bunt up the third base line. Messina and Bragg each scored a run with a groundout and Alden drove in the third with a single up the middle.

Purdue won the game in the bottom of the sixth on a RBI single through the right side by Ashley Courtney.

Noelle Sisco (Towaco, N.J.) earned the start, allowing five runs on eight hits. Abbey Houston (New Egypt, N.J.) came in for relief, allowing just one run through 3.2 innings.

Rutgers continues play at FAU tomorrow with Middle Tennessee State University (4 p.m.) and host Florida Atlantic (8 p.m.). 