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Purdue Sneaks Past Iowa, 4-1, to Record First Tournament Win
May 11, 2007
COLUMBUS, Ohio -- In its first Big Ten Tournament win in six tries, fifth-seeded Purdue used a four run second inning to upset third-seeded Iowa, 4-1. The Boilermakers advance to face host school and top seed Ohio State in tonight's 7:30 p.m. semifinal game. Despite out hitting Purdue 7-4, Iowa could not string anything together against Purdue's starting pitcher Brooke Baker. Baker kept the Hawkeyes in check all game by going the distance to pick up her season best 26th win. Leftfielder Jenna Alexander started the Boilermaker attack in the second when she hit a perfectly place ball to short centerfield. Three Hawkeyes converged, but were unsuccessful in their attempt. Meanwhile, Alexander capitalized on an unguarded base to take second to record an unusual stand up double. The bases were loaded for pinch hitter Alicia Spack after starting pitcher Brittany Weil walked then hit the next two Boilermaker batters. Spack squeezed the second walk of the inning from the Iowa hurler to plate pinch runner Christina Trauger and put Purdue on the board, 1-0. With the bases still juiced, designated player Katie Mitchell singled through the left side. It was good enough to clear the bases and go ahead 4-0 after a Hawkeye throwing error. Weil would get the next two Boilermakers to ground out, but the damage had already been done. Iowa would get on the board in the fourth when compact swings by the Hawkeyes cut the deficit to 4-1. Summer Downs singled to leftfield and later scored after two singles up the middle by second baseman Colleen McGlaughlin and pinch hitter Katie Brown.
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