HAMMOND, Ind. – The Purdue University Northwest softball team lost a pair of games to NCAA Div. 2 opponent Grand Valley State University Sunday afternoon.
The Pride (10-8) dropped Game 1 to the Lakers (8-10) by a score of 7-0, before dropping a 6-0 decision in Game 2.
Game 1: GVSU 7, PNW 0
Grand Valley State jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the second inning, before taking a 5-0 advantage heading in to the bottom of the fourth.
Junior Alex Morales (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) recorded PNW's first hit in the bottom of the fifth inning, after reaching base on a walk in the third inning.
Tessa Steffens (Litchfield, Ill./Litchfield) would connect on a single in the bottom of the seventh inning, but GVSU would hold the Pride scoreless for the rest of the inning to take the 7-0 win.
Audrey Headley (Lafayette, Ind./McCutcheon) pitched a complete game for the Black and Gold, allowing six earned runs while striking out one batter with zero walks.
Allison Lipovsky earned the win for the Lakers pitching a complete game two hit shutout, while earning 11 strikeouts with one walk.
Game 2: GVSU 6, PNW 0
The Black and Gold trailed 1-0 heading in to the fifth inning, but the Lakers would use a 5-run fifth frame to take a 6-0 advantage.
Taylor Kotzo (Munster, Ind./Munster) and Kyleigh Payne (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bishop McNamara) would record back-to-back singles in the bottom of the sixth, but the Lakers would hold off a comeback effort from the Pride and take a 6-0 victory.
Allyson Leach (Demotte, Ind./North Newton) recorded a team-high two hits, thanks to a double down the line in the bottom of the third and a single in the bottom of the seventh.
Junior Holly Pagan (Bartlett, Ill./Bartlett) started for the Black and Gold in the circle, pitching five innings while allowing six runs and striking out one.
Leslie Ford (Garden City, Kan./Garden City) would enter the game in relief, allowing just one hit in two shutout innings for the Pride.
The Black and Gold return to action Tuesday, Mar. 21, when the Pride host Cornerstone University in a doubleheader starting at 2 p.m. (CT) at Dowling Park.
