Westfield, Ind. – Junior Zoee Anderson (Lafayette, Ind./Lafayette Jefferson) combined for two hits, including a home run, as well as two runs scored and two RBI as the Purdue Northwest softball team continued to roll Sunday afternoon at Grand Park in Westfield, Ind. The Pride took down Bellarmine University (Ky.) in Sunday's first game, 3-2, and then pulled off the big upset with a 4-3 victory over No. 9 ranked (NCAA Division II) University of Southern Indiana. It was the fourth straight win for PNW.
Bellarine got on the scoreboard first scoring a pair of runs in the top of the third set up by a RBI triple to centerfield. In the bottom of the fifth, Purdue Northwest took advantage of a throwing error by the Knights to score its first run and cut the deficit in half, 2-1. Anderson put the Pride in front for good with a two-run homer to left field in the bottom of the sixth.
Freshman Samantha Burgard (Crystal Lake, Ill./Crystal Lake South) got the start in the circle and pitched the first four innings allowing three hits, two runs (none earned) and one walk with two strikeouts. Junior Mia Stevens (Wheatfield, Ind./Kankakee Valley) threw the final three frames and got the win (2-0) giving up just one hit, no runs and no walks with four strikeouts.
Purdue Northwest carried the momentum into the late game scoring four runs over the first three innings to take an early 4-0 lead. A RBI double by senior Samme Miller (North Salem, Ind./Tri-West) and a RBI triple by senior Kyleigh Payne (Bourbonnais, Ill./Bishop McNamara) in the top of the first inning gave PNW a 2-0 advantage. A fielding error and another RBI triple by Payne in the third inning pushed the lead to 4-0.
A pair of RBI singles by USI made it a two-run game, 4-2, in the bottom half of the third inning. The Eagles added another run in the bottom of the sixth off a fielder's choice, but could draw no closer as PNW held on for the upset. Freshman Courtney Blackwell (Whiting, Ind./Whiting) earned the win (1-1) for the Pride pitching all seven innings and allowing just seven hits, three runs (none earned) and a walk with three strikeouts.
Purdue Northwest (4-1 overall) heads to Springfield, Ill., next weekend to take part in the UIS Invitational. The Pride take on host UIS on Saturday, March 3, with games at 2 and 4 p.m. CT. PNW finishes up play in the Invitational on Sunday, March 4, with two games against Quincy University (Ill.) at noon and 2 p.m. CT.
