Troy University Athletics
Troy University
Purdue University
Trojans Fall to Purdue In Final Game of Frost Classic
2/26/2012 12:47:00 PM | Softball
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. - Despite pounding out 12 hits, the Troy softball team fell to the Purdue Boilermakers, 10-4, Sunday morning at the Frost Classic Inspired by Memorial.
Troy finishes 4-1 at the Frost Classic, but the loss snaps a six-game winning streak by the Trojans.
A leadoff home run by Purdue (9-0) shortstop Molly Garst gave the Boilermakers an early 1-0 lead. Troy starting pitcher Ashley Rainey settled down though, as she retired the Boilermakers 2-3-4 hitters to end the top of the first.
Troy (11-2) would get two runners on base in the first, but could not capitalize as Purdue pitcher Lexy Moore settled down to retire the side.
Two singles by Danielle Fletcher and Ashley Burkhardt started the inning. A sacrifice bunt by Ashley Courtney gave Maia Monchek the opportunity to drive in Fletcher with a line drive RBI single up the middle to put Purdue up 2-0.
An error on throw by Renn to second scored one run for the Boilermakers. Then Garst drove in Monchek with an RBI single by Troy third baseman Taylor Smartt put Purdue up 4-0. Single by Lindsey Rains would make it 5-0 Purdue through the top of the second and end the day in the circle for Ashley Rainey.
Rainey (3-1) would last only 1.2 innings, the shortest outing of her career, giving up five runs and six hits.
With two Boilermakers on base, freshman Jaycee Affeldt would come in and put out the fire with a strikeout to end the inning. Affeldt would retire the first four Purdue batters she faced.
Hannah Renn would lead off the bottom of the third, with a solo shot down the left line to cut the Purdue lead down to 5-1.
Three batters later, first baseman Hayden Gann crushed a Lexy Moore pitch down the left field line, but it would hook foul. Gann would draw a walk, but we be left standing on first after a Michelle Hewett bunt attempt was in foul territory by Boilermaker third base Tori Chiodo to end the inning.
In the top of the fourth, Purdue pushed its lead back to five with a squeeze bunt by Garst to score pinch runner Gabi Brown, to make it 6-2 Boilermakers.
Affeldt pitched around the two hits and get out of the inning, surrendering just one run in the fourth.
Troy loaded the bases in the fourth, when Shields and Affeldt reached on singles and McAllister reached on a fielder's choice to third.
Renn cashed in on the opportunity with a single through the right side to drive in pinch runner Madison Rich to cut the lead to 6-2.
Purdue's Katie Hackney relieved Lexy Moore in the fourth and recorded the final two outs of the inning after Kelly Luquette's fielder choice back to the circle cut down Affeldt at the plate.
Hackney (1-0) only needed three pitches to cut down Hollett on strikes to end the scoring opportunity for Troy.
Troy added run in the bottom of the fifth, with a one-out single by Jaycee Affeldt to right field to score Michelle Hewett to cut the Boilermakers lead to 6-3.
But, in the top of the sixth, Purdue took advantage of two straight singles by Garst and Andie Varsha that ended the day for Jaycee Affeldt. The next batter, Lindsey Rains, drilled a Sarah Thomas fast ball for a three-run home run to right field to give Purdue a 9-3 lead, its biggest of the game.
The Trojans attempted to rally in the bottom of the sixth with what looked like would be a promising inning, when Hannah Renn led off the inning with a double over the head of Purdue center fielder Lindsey Rains.
After Renn advanced to third on a wild pitch, Kelly Luquette grounded a single through the right side to cut the Purdue down to 9-4. Hollett followed with a single to left to off new Purdue pitcher Alex Whittlemore to give Troy runners on first and second with no outs.
The very next pitch, Whittlemore induced a double-play ground ball to shortstop to retire Hollett and Gann to end the inning.
Two pitches later, Hewett's ground ball to first ended the bottom of the sixth with Troy only scattering one run.
Purdue tacked on one more run in the top of the seventh with a Tori Chiodo single that kicked off the second base bag into right field, to allow Ashley Courtney to score all the way from second.
Hannah Renn led the Trojans at the plate by going 4-for-4 with a home run and a double. Renn was also the first Troy player to record four hits in game since teammate Nikki Hollett did the same against Cal State Fullerton, last season.
Purdue shortstop Molly Garst led the Boilermakers with a 5-for-5 day at the plate, while scoring three runs and recording three RBIs. Purdue center fielder Lindsey Rains was 3-for-5 with four RBIs, including a three-run home run in the bottom of the sixth.
Rainey would take the loss for Troy, pitching a season-low 1.2 innings, giving up five runs, on six hits with just one strikeout.
Troy travels next weekend, March 2-4, to play in the Red and Blue Classic hosted by Ole Miss.
For more updates on Troy softball check with TroyTrojans.com for the latest on Trojan softball.
For updates on Troy softball on Twitter, follow @TroyAthletics, @MattMaysSID, @iamtylerpigg.
