Feb. 22, 2009
Auburn, Ala. - The Purdue Boilermakers rallied for three runs in the top of the seventh to defeat the Auburn softball team 3-1 Sunday in the final game of the War Eagle Classic.
The Tigers fell to 14-2 with the loss, while Purdue improved to 7-4. Auburn returns to action next weekend at the DeMarini Invitational in Fullerton, Calif., Feb. 27-March 1. The Tigers play Nevada in the first game at 1:15 p.m. CT on Feb. 27.
Jenee Loree took the loss for Auburn after throwing an inning of relief. Loree allowed three runs, all earned, on four hits with no walks and three strikeouts.
Anna Thompson started for the Tigers and pitched 6.0 scoreless innings, allowing two hits with four walks and 11 strikeouts.
Suzie Rzegocki earned the win for Purdue to improve to 5-2. Rzegocki threw 7.0 innings, allowing one run, earned, on six hits with two walks and three strikeouts.
With two outs in the bottom of the fifth inning, Elizabeth Eisterhold took a 1-1 pitch over the scoreboard in left-center for her third home run of the season to give Auburn a 1-0 lead. It was Eisterhold's second home run of the weekend, with the first coming against Winthrop.
The Tigers had squandered two bases loaded scoring opportunities prior to Eisterhold's dinger. Auburn loaded the bases with no outs in the third on singles from Lindsey Harrelson and Kyndall White and a walk to Lauren Guzman. But, Rzegocki got a fielder's choice out on Tatiana Fernandez and a double play off the bat of Eisterhold to end the threat. Auburn also left the bases loaded in the fourth.
In the top of the seventh, Loree relieved Thompson and fanned Ashley Barr for the first out. Pinch-hitter Katie Mitchell then tied the game when she took Loree's 2-2 offering over the wall in right-center for a solo home run.
After a strikeout of Christina Trauger, Kelly Miller singled and came around to score on a double off the wall in left by Liane Horiuchi to give Purdue a 2-1 lead. Candace Curtis then followed with a double off the wall in right to score Horiuchi to push the Purdue lead to 3-1.
The Tigers went down in order in the bottom of the seventh for their first home loss of the season.